1. SUSWA GULLY CONTROL AND REHABILITATION IN NAROK COUNTY
Dr P.T.Gicheru
ECONOMICS OF LAND DEGRADATION NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP
Nairobi, 15 April 2014
SUSWA GULLY CONTROL AND REHABILITATION IN NAROK COUNTY

2. Introduction
Narok District has an area of 15,088 km2 located in SW Kenya
Two zones: the highland over 2,300 and lowland meters ASL
Highlands have rich volcanic soils good for intensive agriculture with large-scale farms
Lowlands have high potential for livestock rearing but fragile soils and unreliable rains.
Have Nomadic pastoralism and small-scale subsistence farms

4. Land degradation Loss of land cover Soil erosion
Lack of enough and good quality water
Reduced water catchment areas
Reduced soil nutrient availability
Polluted water bodies

5. From 1980 - 2007, soil erosion rate increased from 50% to 80%,
Water availability reduced from 90% to 55% in Suswa
Consequence-reduced crop and livestock productivity

6. Policies as drivers to LD
Land Privatization Policy, the Wildlife and Tourism Policies
Land Privatization Policy has changed the land tenure system to private ownership
It has facilitated the immigration of people from other areas
Pastoralism moved to more marginal areas
Wildlife and livestock pasture land lost to agricultural production
The local people benefit little from agriculture and wildlife

7. Indicators Environmental indicators for land degradation
Reduction of forested areas
High amount of soil lost thro erosion
Number of Rills and Gullies increased
Negative soil nutrient balances
Poor water quality
Economic indicator
Low household Incomes
Social Indicator
Food insecurity – low average staple food consumption/farm household/year

8. Drivers of Land Degradation
Population growth rate
Increase of off-farm income/annum
Land sub-divisions of less than an acre
Overstocking and free range grazing systems
Encroachment of forests and water catchments for settlement
Charcoal burning as source of livelihood
Inadequate soil conservation measures and minimum planting of trees.
Lack of land proper land use policies

9. Opportunities
On-farm soil and water conservation and riverbank protection by pegging, tree planting, fallowing and fencing – off the main waterways that are practiced to counter the effects of environmental degradation
Capacity building of farmers on benefits of soil and water conservation.
Take conservation programs to farmers e.g. woodlot establishment, agro-forestry, drip irrigation, soil conservation structures, roof water harvesting and riverbank protection

10. OLESHARO (SUSWA) GULLY EROSION CONTROL -A CASE STUDY

11. Olesharo gully

12. The Major objective was to rehabilitate the Olesharo Suswa gully
Train the local community and extension staff in gully control and rehabilitation.
Conduct baseline survey involving the local community in the affected area.
Determine the climatic, soil and land use characteristics that contribute to gully erosion and assess land use and land use cover change over the last few years using remote sensing and GIS.
Conduct resource mapping with the local community using participatory GIS (P-GIS) tools.
Design and implement gully control measures appropriate for the affected area.
Disseminate research findings (publications in scientific and popular journals, policy briefs, mass media, participation in local, national and international conferences and workshops)

13. Methodology Approaches to gully control and rehabilitation
Identify the gully catchment and define the drainage pattern
Identify the source of runoff causing gully erosion
Survey the profile of the gully
Design gully control structures
Implement construction of proposed structures
Monitoring the gully healing progress

14. A meeting with stakeholders and gully control and structures

15. Results
Water Pan

16. Cutoff drain or diversion ditch constructed at the top end of the catchment above gully head to divert runoff from entering the gully.

17. Retention ditch and semi circular bund constructed within the catchment to hold runoff and reduce the flow to the gully. The runoff held in the ditches will increase soil moisture in the catchment suitable for re-vegetation and planting of trees. The ditches also act as soil erosion control measures.

18. STRUCTURE
TARGET
ACHIEVEMENT
Water pan
One water pan with a capacity of 20,000 cubic metres
One water pan completed
Retention ditches
10,400 metres
16,300 metres
Semi-circular bands
400 metres
450 metres
Check dams(using gunny bags)
315 metres
Check dams(using brushwood)
250 metres
360 metres
Brushwood strips
500 metres
750 metres
Cut-off Drains
280 metres
210 metres

19. Socio-Economic Impacts
Re-stocking livestock through purchase of 100 sheep, 2 cows and 20 goats
Construction of three small water pans of 100 cubic metres at household level by individual households
Paying school fees to their children and medical bills for some family members
Purchase of foodstuffs and clothing for the family

20. Over 5 small groups were formed by the casuals working in the catchment
Most of the members pooled up their proceeds from the work and contributed to members on a merry-go-round basis.

22. Soil and Water Conservation structures

23. Conclusion
The rehabilitation of the Olesharo (Suswa) gully was treated as phase I and the team has identified some other two areas (Phases II and III) which require to be rehabilitated urgently

24. Thanks for listening