The Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies

The marginalization of the dryland pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Kenya inhibits the development of appropriate solutions to poverty and food insecurity. This partnership will establish a Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies to focus the trans-disciplinary, multi-institutional, collaborative effort needed to overcome the sustainability challenges of Kenya’s under-developed drylands.

Colorado State University and the University of Nairobi are partnering to bring the new center to realization. The Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies at the University of Nairobi will transform the institution’s capacity in teaching, research, and outreach so that students and faculty can work with dryland communities, civil society, the private sector and government to ensure sustainability and productivity of dryland ecosystems. These actions will in turn foster the development of—and food security for—pastoral society in the region.

Among the activities planned for this partnership are: new courses on dryland development, training for University of Nairobi students on the geographic information system (GIS), faculty mentorships for graduate students, research grants, remodeling of a nearby field station, workshops, and development of a database to store information about dryland sustainability/development researchers.

Related Links

The Living Land blog: http://soilisalive.blogspot.com/