Land Restoration: Young People Lead Communities in Regreening Degraded Land in Laikipia and Isiolo County by Digging Semi-Circular Bunds

By Melisa Mong'ina
As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, the chilly morning air whispered through the semi-arid landscapes of Laikipia and Isiolo County.
A group of journalists, bundled in jackets to fend off the early morning cold, embarked on their field visit, eager to witness how young people are taking charge and leading their communities in efforts to regreen degraded lands by digging semi-circular bunds to prevent soil erosion and promote the growth of more grass.
The soft glow of the sunrise illuminated the rugged terrain, casting a warm light on the extensive stretches of degraded land that had long suffered from erosion and lack of grass. The journalists navigated through the landscape, captivated by the sight of both young and old community members who were already busy at work digging semi-circular bunds.
Land degradation has posed a major challenge in Naibunga, Laikipia County, and Oldonyiro, Isiolo County. Both pastoralist communities have struggled to find adequate grass for their livestock for years. In response, local youths were motivated to seek solutions that could benefit their communities.
With the support of the Wyss Academy for Nature, they developed a land restoration project aimed at creating semi-circular bunds on the degraded lands. This initiative will not only promote the growth of more grass for their livestock but also help reduce water runoff and enhance soil moisture retention.
The Naibunga community had already implemented the semi-circular bunds and recognized their significance on their lands. This early experience inspired them to dig additional bunds across their fields.
In contrast, the residents of Oldonyiro in Isiolo County were constructing semi-circular bunds for the first time, aiming to restore their land's productivity. Their motivation stemmed from the knowledge they acquired during the training.
The Digging of Semi-Circular Bunds in Naibunga, Laikipia County
Naibunga youth digging the semi-circular bunds/ Melisa Mong'ina
Menita Kupano, a young man who is the co-founder and project manager of Green Earth Warriors, a youth-led organization located in Naibunga, Laikipia County, shared that land restoration and the pacification of land are their main objectives.
He described the organization's efforts to improve land through a technique known as semi-circular bunds, which are designed to reduce water runoff, promote soil moisture retention, and encourage plant growth.
“Our organization mainly focuses on land restoration and the pacification of land. For land restoration, we are using a technique called semi-circular bunds, which are also known as half-moon or smiling earth, to slow down runoff, allowing for filtration and soil moisture retention so that grasses and other plants may sprout with ease,” stated Kupano.
Due to a lack of grass for their livestock and a severe drought that led to the loss of many animals, food scarcity, and negative impacts on children's education, the young people believed it was wise to develop a solution that would benefit their community.
This crisis prompted the organization to work on restoring degraded land, where erosion had prevented water from infiltrating the soil.
“We are mainly pastoralists who depend on livestock. There was a prolonged drought from 2020 to 2022 that caused our community to lose a significant number of livestock, impacting children's education and leading to food scarcity. This issue motivated us to start working on restoring these degraded areas, and eventually, we connected with the Wyss Academy Foundation, which shared our vision,” narrated Kupano.
Initially, the project faced some resistance, as the community was skeptical of new techniques like the semi-circular bunds. However, after observing the positive impacts, such as improved soil quality and plant growth, the community began to accept the project and was willing to participate, with some even building semi-circular bunds at their homes.
“We started with pilot projects, although the community was hesitant to accept them. They needed these solutions, but their initial resistance stemmed from desperation, particularly after losing livestock during the drought, which also caused food scarcity. After establishing six pilot sites, the community began to see positive results, and we believe that the land will now receive the necessary traction,” Kupano stated.
Kupano discussed the challenge of engaging young people, particularly Gen Z, in environmental initiatives. He and his team began by directly engaging the community and motivating the youth to participate in conservation work.
As youths, they initially tried various activities, such as tree planting, but later focused on semi-circular bunds after an unsuccessful attempt to restore the soil.
“We noticed that the community was facing many challenges, and it was our duty as young people to safeguard the future for the next generation,” stated Kupano.
“So we decided to engage with them to explore how we could create a safe environment. We were involved in conservation efforts, like tree planting, but it didn't yield the desired results. With the support of the Wyss Academy, we shifted our focus and took control of the initiative as the youth.”
Over time, they began to see more youth involvement, and the initiative gained traction, especially after involving women in the project. Women made up 70% of the workforce that constructed the initial bunds. Kupano emphasized that women played a crucial role in the project's success and that empowering them, along with youth groups, was key to its progress
Future Plans, Monitoring, and Evaluation of the Project in Naibunga Community
Kupano mentioned that Green Earth Warriors has managed to implement around 20,000 semi-circular bunds, and they are planning to reach 100,000 by the end of the year. This tremendous growth is due to the training provided to youth groups and community members by Wyss Academy.
“Our organization has created 20,000 semi-circular bunds and we have pledged to reach 100,000 by the end of this year. We have leveraged the training skills we acquired to empower other community members, groups, and organizations,” said Kupano.
He shared that as young people, they have many upcoming projects that will benefit their communities. Kupano explained the various methods they use to monitor the success of restoration projects, including ecological monitoring, soil sensors, and the use of "citizen science."
"We have many future projects planned beyond land restoration,” Kupano added. “To monitor the semi-circular bunds, we employ various techniques. One method is ecological monitoring, which assesses the presence of plants, animals, and insects. We also use soil sensors to track soil temperature and moisture. Additionally, we engage community members in citizen science to observe and report the returning wildlife and plant species resulting from our restoration efforts.”
The Digging of Semi-Circular Bunds in Oldonyiro, Isiolo County
Stella Napanmorito, the women representative for Oldonyiro Conservancies, shared that land degradation was the primary motivation behind the semi-circular bunds initiative, aimed at making the land useful and productive for both the community and their livestock.
“Our lands were degraded, and one could only spot tall trees. This issue prompted us to start the semi-circular bunds initiative so that we could restore our lands and make them productive,” Stella explained.
She reflected on her experience as a young leader guiding groups predominantly composed of older individuals. These roles made her realize that youths have a voice in a community that has traditionally been led by elders, highlighting the capabilities of young people within the community.
“As a young leader, taking charge of my community has made me realize that young people have voices and can make a difference if given a chance. This also showcases the capabilities we possess as youths,” said Stella.
Stella and her fellow youths ensured that the community received adequate training to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills before implementing the semi-circular bunds project.
“They first underwent training on how to create these semi-circular bunds and learned about their importance for the land. This project is not something you can just decide to do on a whim; one must undergo specific training to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills,” emphasized Stella.
She highlighted their efforts to educate their peers on the importance of supporting the community, particularly their parents, in initiatives beneficial for everyone. “We educate the youth on the importance of helping their parents and the community at large with these initiatives. We also encourage them not to feel embarrassed when helping their parents or guardians,” stated Stella.
The implementation of these bunds will prevent livestock from migrating to other communities in search of pasture, thereby restoring the land and making it more useful for the people of Oldonyiro.
“I believe that this project will lead to the growth of more grass species on our land, preventing our livestock from migrating to other communities in search of pasture,” she said.
The growth of grass will also enable the community to cut and store it at home, reducing the need to purchase grass from outside. Additionally, they will be able to sell the seeds harvested from the grass, generating more income.
“When the grass grows, our people will be able to cut and store it in their homesteads, thus preventing them from buying it from outside our community. The seeds from the grass will also be sold to other communities, leading to increased income,” she highlighted.
Advice to Young People and Community Engagement
Stella advises young people to engage with their community to earn a living, as it is not right for young adults to rely on their parents all the time. She also urged them not to feel embarrassed about working alongside their parents in the field.
“It is beneficial to participate in community initiatives and to work together with your parents. This will enable you to earn a living and become self-sufficient. Don’t feel shy when working with your parents or the community,” Stella emphasized.
Kupano highlighted the importance of using acquired knowledge to benefit local communities, suggesting that the knowledge gained in school should be shared with those who can benefit from it, particularly in local areas facing specific challenges.
“I had a passion for conservation, and since my studies aligned with conservation science, I realized that seeking larger job opportunities in the cities wasn't necessary. Instead, I chose to return to my community to make a difference,” Kupano shared.
He further stressed the importance of communities experiencing the benefits of education and innovation, noting that cities might not have the capacity to support everyone. He encourages youth to return to their communities to share the knowledge they gained in school.
“I urge my peers to let their knowledge benefit their community. Let them see your impact because cities cannot accommodate us all. So let's return to our communities and help them using the knowledge we acquired at school,” Kupano urged.
Wyss Academy's Support to Youth and Communities
According to Sheila Funnell, Head of Impact and Innovation at the Wyss Academy for Nature, based in the East Africa Hub in Nanyuki, Kenya, the project's main goal is to increase pasture production in the region, particularly in degraded rangelands.
“The semi-circular bund initiative aims to enhance pasture production in this landscape. It is a technique used to improve the water stored within the soil.” She noted that the semi-circular bunds are designed to slow down water runoff and allow for better water infiltration, which helps restore the land and support grass growth.
This technique is especially beneficial in areas where land degradation has hindered pasture production. The project also seeks to link pasture production to income generation for local communities.
“Semi-circular bunds slow down water runoff, and due to their construction, they allow water to infiltrate into the ground. The idea is to restore degraded rangelands by applying this technique on affected land, which will result in grass growth and also link pasture production to income generation for local communities,” stated Funnell.
This project was first initiated in Laikipia in response to a request from the Green Earth Warriors, a youth group concerned about the degradation of local rangelands.
The group recognized the negative impact of this degradation on both their community and the environment. Wyss Academy supported the youth group by providing technical expertise and partnering with Just Dig It to help implement the bund technique.
“The bunds were dug at the request of the Green Earth Warriors, who envisioned restoring degraded rangelands and improving their community's well-being for the future. Wyss Academy's role was to equip the youth group with the technical capabilities to restore the land through a partnership with Just Dig It,” she explained.
Funnell highlighted that the youth group, the primary drivers of the project, were trained by Just Dig It to learn the technical aspects of creating semi-circular bunds. This training empowered them to become knowledge bearers and trainers within their community.
“Before the semi-circular bunds were dug, the youth group was seen as the owners of this project and had the responsibility to share their knowledge about the technique. The expertise brought by Just Dig It was passed on to the youth group through intensive training sessions, enabling them to become knowledge bearers and to train others,” she shared.
Over the past two years, the youth group has actively educated other groups, such as women’s groups and additional youth groups, on how to implement the technique. Their ongoing role as trainers has allowed the initiative to extend beyond its original scope.
“The youths became trainers of trainees within their community two years ago, and they remain active today, training their wider community, other youth groups, women’s groups, and other community members to implement the activity,” said Funnell.
Funnell emphasized that the community, particularly the youth group, is committed to maintaining the intervention, but robust governance systems are needed to ensure a lasting impact.
"We are ensuring that the governance systems are strong enough to support the intervention and ensure its sustainability. It's not just us; the youth group and community members are also working towards this goal. There's a genuine motivation among the community groups to maintain the intervention,” Funnell stated.
Despite the challenges, Funnell highlighted several successes. One key achievement is the increased grass production in areas where semi-circular bunds have been implemented, particularly in Laikipia. Another success is the youth group’s ownership of the project and their ongoing commitment to its success.
“There has been an increase in grass production where the semi-circular bunds were dug, which is a significant achievement. Another huge success is the youth group’s ownership of that intervention and their determination to carry it forward,” Funnell stated.