Abstract:

Land degradation in Arid and Semi – Arid Lands (ASALs) is a potential precursor to widespread desertification
and is linked to various human induced factors as a result of poor land use and management practices. These
factors include; inappropriate development models, unsustainable farming practices, reduced livestock mobility
and over-exploitation of available pastures, high population growth encroaching on wet- season grazing areas for
pastoralists as well as encroachment of agriculture into marginal land. In addition, the increasing demand to fuel
wood charcoal and timber has led to loss of forest covers aggravating land degradation. These man- made crisis
coupled with the devastating impacts of climate change has further undermined the lives and livelihood of
pastoral and agro-pastoral communities rendering them perpetual dependents on famine relief. The ASALs of
Kenya are characterized by hot and dry climate, fragile ecology, low and erratic rainfall (arid: -450mm/yr and
semi-arid 500-850mm/yr) and are most vulnerable to droughts and floods (Miriti et al. 2012; McCown and Jones
1992).