Last week we ran a workshop to support implementation of the Kenyan National Prosopis Strategy (NPS) in Baringo County. We focus this initial step in implementation of the NPS on Baringo, as this is where prosopis has become very invasive and we have previously worked with a Local Implementation Group of stakeholders from the most invaded area around Lake Baringo.
During the workshop, stakeholders from across Baringo County, now convened as the County Implementation Group, worked on a spatial land management plan to manage prosopis in a sustainable way and reflected on practices to achieve the identified management goals. The workshop participants were informed about the impacts of prosopis, based on research done in the Woody Weeds project.
Workshop participants were also informed about the best strategies to manage invasions by woody alien species, starting by preventing spread of the species to uninvaded parts of the county, and removal in sparsely invaded areas.
In groups, the participants identified parts of the county where prosopis invasion should be prevented. Suitable practices may involve monitoring the area for establishment of the species and measures to prevent introduction of seeds through livestock movement.
Other parts of the county already have sparse prosopis and here the species can still be removed; these areas were also indicated on maps. Appropriate practices may be killing of established trees followed by regular scouting for and removal of seedlings, and prevention of new introductions.
Finally, there are areas from which prosopis cannot be entirely removed and these were also mapped. Here, practices should focus on protection of assets, such as irrigation schemes and remaining grazing land, and restoration of native vegetation. Especially this latter situation with heavily invaded areas is very complex to manage, as there is privately owned and communal land across the landscape. Here, effective and sustainable management must include biological control.
The participants have now gone back home for consultation with community members and we will continue this work with them during the next workshop, which will hopefully take place in the second half of February.