UNCCD 2d ago

What happens when the soil is too salty and compacted for trees to grow? You don’t give up. You treat the soil, and you replant. In Kilifi County, Kenya, the women of the Friend of Nature Community-Based Organization are fighting back against land degradation. Partnering with the Little Environmental Action Foundation (LEAF), they are restoring 100 hectares of vital mangrove forests along the coast. Through relentless trial and error—a process they call "beating up"—they have achieved an incredible 80% seedling survival rate. But the real success is the economic model: these women are earning a sustainable income by growing and nurturing trees, proving that conservation must pay to be permanent. This Desertification and Drought Day, hosted by Kenya, we celebrate the land stewards who are turning degraded coastlines into thriving ecosystems. 🌍 The Theme: Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore. 📖 Read the full story: https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/stories/desertification-and-drought-day-kilifi-where-land-holds-water