Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

The drylands of Kenya that are defined by aridity, thermal stress and soil moisture deficiency constitute about 80% of the total land area. Poverty in these areas leave locals without a sustainable livelihood, compelling them to casually exploit the natural environment, which has partly led to the manifestation of the Tragedy of Commons hypothesis. For example, official documents show that about 80% of households in these areas use charcoal and firewood as fuel leading to deforestation, which is not accompanied by re-forestation, leaving more land bare and risking desertification. This is compounded by overstocking and encroachment of human settlements in the drylands, leading to destruction of other natural resources including wetlands. Consequently, this paper analyzes literature and roots for a paradigm shift in the exploitation of dryland resources to avert possible desertification. As a panacea, the paper proposes a public-private partnership of social scientists to avert this trend and augment environmental management and livelihood in these areas. To achieve this, social scientists may be required to undertake multi-disciplinary research, put in place action plans for alternative energy sources, civic education and other activities that can work to avert desertification in the drylands of the country. Of particular importance would be public-private partnerships that provide resources to undertake the proposed remedial measures.