National Range Resources Management Policy.

Extreme environmental degradation characterised by severe degradation of rangelands resources in the country triggered the process of formulating the National Range Resources Management Policy. The purpose of this strategy is to provide guidance for the development of effective strategies that combats land and vegetation degradation and motivate for improved legislation and implementation thereof.The overall goal of the policy is to attain sustainable development and management of rangeland resources for the enhanced biodiversity, optimum productivity and improved livelihoods of the present and future generations.The key objectives of the policy are: (i) rangeland resources management, (ii) to raise public awareness and promote community and wider stakeholders’ active participation in develop and implement efficient and effective strategies to avert land and vegetation degradation, (iii) to improve and maintain productivity of rangeland resources at optimum level so as to promote ecosystems balance, (iv) to rehabilitate and improve the quality of rangeland so as to enhance productivity of livestock and wildlife habitat, (v) to conserve and increase the availability of native plant species for economic, social and cultural utilisation, (vi) to protect water resources and improve the water quality and yield, (vii) to enhance the aesthetic beauty of the landscape to increase opportunities for sustainable recreation and ecotourism, (viii) to improve income opportunities and quality of life of the rural communities, and (ix) to promote disaster, risk reduction, gender equity, as well as HIV and AIDS mainstreaming in range resources management.Regarding the reduction of rural poverty, the Government shall ensure proper management and control for harvesting of rangeland resources to meet social, cultural and economic requirements for improvement of the livelihoods of the rural communities and without compromising the status of biodiversity. strategies to be implemented are: (i) provide technical support for enhanced productivity of rangeland resources in selected areas and exploitation for income generation purposes, (ii) promote opportunities for private sector, institutions, non-governmental organisations and development partners’ involvement in the development and management of rangeland resources, (iii) mainstream gender and HIV and AIDS in planning and implementation of rangeland management programmes.To increase the resilience of livelihood to disasters, the Government in liaison and collaboration with appropriate ministries and institutions shall ensure healthy biodiversity through proper conservation of plant and animal species in the rangelands through: (i) protection of water sources against destruction and negative exploitation for sustenance of rangeland and riverine habitats, (ii) protection and conservation of threatened indigenous vegetation against overexploitation to maintain balanced ecosystem, (iii) maintenance of natural grasslands and other vegetation and management of invasive species, (iv) development of guidelines for establishment of rangeland infrastructure and cattle post areas to avoid compromising the rangeland ecosystems. Furthermore, the Government will ensure that information on the location, status, extend, characteristics and function of the wetlands is provided to promote the understanding and conservation of this resources. Strategies to be implemented are: (i) formulate and disseminate information on importance of wetland and wetland areas protection and maintenance, (ii) develop guidelines on cattle post adjudication for protection of wetlands, (iii) collaborate with key stakeholders to foster diversification of alternative livelihood coping strategies, to reduce pastoral communities’ dependence on cattle posts and wetland areas thus enhancing resilience of rangeland resources, (iv) explore international climate change funding opportunities to support emerging climate change smart initiatives, (v) collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve livestock nutrition programmes (e.g. fodder production, hay making, fodder banking), and promote construction of water harvesting structures for livestock drinking to minimize direct use of wetlands.In the context of governance, the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation, through the Department of Range Resources Management, shall be the custodian of this policy. The Ministry shall therefore provide an enabling environment for effective conservation and sustainable use of rangelands and range resources. The Department of Range Resources Management shall drive the implementation of the National Rangelands Programme including drafting of the enabling legislation, mobilisation and coordination of the resources required for implementation as well as providing capacity building and technical support to the various implementing stakeholders including rural communities.