The directorate is also mapping dryland forests in Marsabit County. Dryland forests are found in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya and are mainly dominated by Acacia-Commiphora species as well as Combretum, Platycephelium voense, Manilkara, Lannea, Balanites aegyptiaca, Melia volkensii, Euphorbia candelabrum and Adansonia digitata. They also include riverine forests in dry areas. This forest strata are critical to human existence and drought resilience in the ASALs and by extension plays a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The results of the study will go a long way in supporting restoration of degraded forest landscapes in the ASALs and rangelands:
The specific objectives of the study are;

1. To show the status of dryland forests in Marsabit County between 2015 to 2023 and convert in terms of carbon stock.
2. To identify areas of forest cover change between the years 2015 to 2023 from status maps
3. To map out hot-spots areas as generated from the Landcover change map.
4. To develop a criteria for selecting potential areas for restoration in the dryland forest strata.
5. To collect socio-economic data from the forest adjacent communities to aid further data analysis.

This continuous study is done by the directorate to identify areas where the forest cover has changed, show the status of dryland forests and convert it to carbon stock, map out hot-spot areas by use of Landcover change maps, developing a criterion for selecting potential areas for restoration in the dryland forest strata and collecting socio-economic data from the forest adjacent communities to aid further data analysis.

JAZAMITI is a multi-agency innovation that leverages on Information and communications technology (ICT) to document, report, verify and monitor tree planting and growing activities across all the 47 counties in Kenya following the initiative to achieve 30% tree cover in the country launched by his Excellency the President William Samoei Ruto on 21st December 2022 at Kona Baridi in Ngong Hills. The mobile application can be downloaded from the app stores (for android and iOS users).

Our collaborators are Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA).

As part of the efforts to mitigate land degradation in Kenya, Ground Surveys has been assessing and mapping degraded lands for rehabilitation. Lake Naivasha,Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria Catchment Areas are among the regions that have already been mapped. 

Projects in progress include; Mapping the intensity of invasive species, Ipomoea, in Kajiado County, Assessment and Mapping of Land Degradation in the Kenya Rangelands due to charcoal production, mining and quarrying activities.

The land degradation maps generated will indicate the areas of focus for land rehabilitation activities in effort to help reduce environmental degradation eventually aiding in the realization of the Government’s agenda on food security and climate change mitigation.

The directorate does this project in different county rangeland areas to Monitor the trends in numbers and distribution of livestock and wildlife over space and time. The aim is to provide continuous flow of data on livestock and wildlife populations and their distribution. This data informs planning, conservation and management of these resources.

As part of the efforts to mitigate land degradation in Kenya, the directorate has been assessing and mapping degraded lands for rehabilitation. The land degradation maps produced indicate where to concentrate land rehabilitation efforts thus helping reduce soil degradation and in the long run contribute towards realization of the Government’s agenda on food security.