Kajiado County Government has declared the Ipomea plant a disastrous invasive weed that is threatening vegetation, livestock production, and wildlife grazing rangelands. The weed has taken over 3 million acres of grazing land.
In Nasaru-Olosho Conservancy, WWF-Kenya has partnered with the local community to clear the weeds from 1,840 hectares of rangeland, opening up space for grass to sprout in the land vital for the survival of wildlife and livestock. Over 1,000 community members have participated in the manual clearing out of the invasive species. WWF-UK and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection have supported the weeding out of Ipomea in Kajiado County.
“On behalf of Nasaru management and the entire community, I would like to thank your office and WWF-Kenya for the opportunity to benefit from the just-concluded phase I project. This initiative has not only supported conservation efforts but has also brought smiles to many faces. Community members have reported that children who previously could not attend school due to a lack of fees are now back in class, thanks to the financial support from this project. Over 600 households have earned a living through it, enhancing community acceptance of conservancy management. I am confident that as this project concludes and reseeding occurs, rangeland restoration will truly transform Nasaru.” — Jacob Nkananai, Chief Executive Officer — Nasaru Conservancy.
By Faith Tanui, Communications Officer, WWF-Kenya
