Farm Africa promotes the sustainable management of fields, forests, grazing lands and water resources, and we build communities’ resilience to climate shocks.
Environmental destruction threatens the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities across eastern Africa. Climate change and weather extremes are making the situation worse, with people who rely on their own produce most at risk.
The preservation of soil, forests, grazing lands and water resources are all critical to food security, poverty reduction and resilience to climate extremes.
We use our expertise in participatory forest and rangeland management in eastern Africa to bring farmers, governments and other stakeholders together to make agreements on using natural resources sustainably, for the benefit of all.
What happens in one part of the landscape affects what happens elsewhere. Introducing pesticides to improve crop yields in one area may kill vital predators that control pests on other crops. Diverting water from one source means those relying on the water elsewhere may suffer.
Ecosystems provide many essential services, such as water supplies and pollination that are usually not considered in economic development plans. We help farmers and communities develop plans for the holistic management of the landscapes they live in, so that gains from rural development in one region are not cancelled out by losses in another.
There is huge value for communities in protecting natural resources. We help unlock the potential to make conservation profitable. We help local people earn an income from ecosystem goods, such as timber, honey and frankincense.
And we help them to get paid for the ecosystem services they deliver, such as reducing carbon emissions in Ethiopia and in Kenya by preventing deforestation or conserving biodiversity.
The following short papers summarise Farm Africa's approach to:
This paper provides a concise but comprehensive overview of Farm Africa's approach to the environment (1084KB).
Deforestation destroys wildlife and dehydrates soil. We help forest communities replace traditional tree-cutting and wood and charcoal selling with new eco-friendly enterprises that protect biodiversity and provide a sustainable income for future generations.
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