Kenya has a diverse and renowned ecological landscape. Globally known for safaris in lowland savannahs and the big five. Kenya is a vast country and also home to deserts, swamps, mountains forests and more. The specific are of Kenya we are working in stretches from around the base of mount Kenya and includes open savannah, shrubland, dense forest and wetlands with a great diversity of species ranging from elephants to warthogs to dung beetles. It is a mixture of wildlife conservancies, community conservancies and other land use types. Working collaboratively to restore Nature poses interesting governance challenges as well as the acute need to address the social aspects relating to nature restoration and land use. Recently, the area was severely affected by climate change with extensive droughts and intense floods.
The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is partnering with Natural State, looking at the degree to which grazing management and nature based solutions can restore overgrazed, bare soils. We also explore the type of nature financing models and how these can lead to inclusivity and benefits for those already living on and working with the land. Different gradients of landscapes and changes in elevations make this an exciting case study landscape.
Ecological Research Focus
The ecological research will concentrate research on identifying the best indicators for degradation and recovery across various biomes, exploring the challenge of defining and measuring ecological degradation and health in ecosystems where disturbance is a key part of ecosystem functioning. There will be an initial emphasis on savanna systems and rangeland ecosystems. This work will provide insights into how severe droughts and land use changes have affected the ecological integrity of the landscape and how restoring nature may impact the resilience of the landscape.
Nature Finance Research Focus
The nature finance research will address the growing recognition of the interconnectedness between nature, climate, and society. This research will design, analyse, test, and scale various financing mechanisms that deliver positive outcomes for nature, climate, and communities. By collaborating with green finance experts, this research will support the co-design of effective financial structures, building awareness and capability around the value proposition of nature finance. This work aims to close the financing gap for nature-based solutions in Africa, as highlighted by The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative.