Traditional conservation combined with agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture were implemented to reduce pressure to overgraze, replenish water sources, and restore soil and land integrity in the Bale Eco-region.

Nature-based Intervention:

Farm Africa is working with national and regional partners, supported by the European Union’s Supporting Horn of Africa Resilience (SHARE) initiative, to implement improved agroforestry, sustainable farming, livestock support, water access, and community grazing land management methods. More specifically, agroforestry and climate-smart agricultural techniques such as row planting, mulching, terracing, and diversified crop planting were introduced to reduce pressures to expand farmland. Agroforestry efforts made non-timber forest products like honey, bamboo, forest coffee, and oils available to help diversify local livelihoods. To support the well-being of local livestock, community animal health workers were employed, feed was improved, and ten nature-based ponds were introduced to improve water access and availability. A community grazing plan was also introduced to ensure proper communication about and sharing of grazing lands. These efforts were implemented starting in 2014, but built on the important work of Farm Africa in the region dating back to the 1990s.

Overview of context and outcomes:

The Bale Eco-region is susceptible to frequent droughts and erratic and unpredictable rainfall. Highland grazing areas are also being converted to agricultural land inducing overgrazing of grassland and forest resources worsening the effects of soil erosion, flooding, drought, and disrupting the hydrological cycle of the area.