Get reliable rangeland science

Rangelands across eastern Africa are in need of urgent interventions to restore rangeland health and build resilience to climate change. Drylands cover nearly half of the global land surface and harbor high biodiversity, yet they remain understudied and undervalued. The compounding effects of climate change and land degradation currently represent a major threat to drylands in general, and rangelands in particular. There are substantial gaps in the evidence base for land restoration with a significant bias towards the Global North and forest ecosystems. This research aims to address key gaps in East Africa around (1) the role of restoration interventions that consider and manage plant-soil-water feedbacks in accelerating the recovery of key ecosystem functions and related ecosystem services, (2) the link between above-ground and below-ground interactions, including biodiversity and (3) how such interventions can be scaled to improve restoration outcomes. The project builds on long-term and robust data collected in the field across a range of rangeland systems in East Africa using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF). We systematically assess ed the impact of woody and non-woody vegetation (species, structure, cover, above-ground biomass, diversity), soil inherent properties (soil texture, pH), and land management (grazing and browsing intensity) on ecosystem functioning and the delivery of key ecosystem services, including erosion control, water regulation (soil infiltration capacity), and carbon storage, We present grass, forb and woody species diversity in 11 – 100 km2 LDSF sites across East Africa, as well as maps of soil organic carbon, soil erosion and herbaceous cover. We will present the use citizen science to enhance the participation of local communities, and in particular women and youth, increasing transparency and inclusion in the various phases of rangeland restoration. These methods can be applied globally and fill key knowledge gaps around rangeland health and the impact of inventions on the ground.