World Day to Combat Desertification #WDCD2013

Today is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. IMPACT is helping to combat the problem in Kibwezi and Embu Districts in Kenya. We have planted over 20,000 trees in 12 months. Here a new batch of saplings have arrived at a school for children to plant and tend.

In recent years the region has been ravaged by human activity, with forests cleared for cultivation and charcoal burning, and riverbeds damaged by sand-harvesting. Resulting soil erosion has led to desertification; prolonging droughts and threatened biodiversity. The impact on agriculture and livelihoods has increased poverty and malnutrition.

70% of the trees we planted last year survived the dry season and this has left good coverage to provide shelter for schoolchildren and animals and help prevent soil erosion (which benefits the vegetable plots we are also establishing). Many of the trees planted are mangoes and the fruit will provide useful micronutrients for schoolchildren.

www.impact.org.uk