The green in our neighborhood: A Community’s fight against Land degradation

How my restoration journey began

If there is one thing that has shaped my path, it’s my deep-rooted love for the land and the communities that depend on it. I’ve always believed that our connection to nature is personal—that the trees we plant, the soil we nurture and the food we grow tell a story of who we are. My journey in restoration in Kaani wasn’t something I planned; it was something I felt within myself.

Kaani, located in Eastern Kenya, is a semi-arid region characterized by erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts and increasingly poor soil quality. Once a landscape rich with diverse vegetation, it now struggles under the weight of deforestation, unsustainable land practices and the worsening climate crisis. 

I’m Sydner Kemunto, and I work with Kijani Mtaani, a youth-led community initiative in Kenya. I still remember the day my restoration journey truly began. 

I was helping out at a community event involving students, an initiative close to my heart. In our community gatherings, we have a habit of planting trees, specifically fruit trees, because they serve as an important food source, especially for school children. On this particular day, we were set to plant a pixie orange tree, a fruit cherished in our region for its sweetness and nutritional value. However, this activity quickly turned into a conversation about loss and frustration among the farmers present.

Some community members resisted the idea of planting this tree, sharing their past struggles with growing it. They recounted how these trees had been drying up in their fields, failing to survive despite their best efforts. As they spoke, it became clear that underlying issues like erratic rainfall, prolonged drought and depleted soil fertility were all symptoms of the worsening climate crisis in Kaani. Yet, many of these farmers did not fully understand how climate change is directly affecting their crops and livelihoods. 

This conversation deeply moved me. I realized that the lack of awareness about climate change was just as big a challenge as the environmental issues themselves.

The young pixie orange tree we planted during our community event. Photo: Sydner Kemunto 

It became clear that land restoration goes beyond environmental effort; it needed a community-driven process based on collective action and knowledge-sharing. Inspired by this, I committed to working closely with young people in Kaani to ensure that climate awareness was accessible, relevant and framed in our local language. 

Through Kijani Mtaani, we have been actively engaging the youth in restoration efforts, ensuring land restoration is not a one-person job but a shared responsibility that strengthens our environment and communities.

Kijani Mtaani community members in Kaani are working together to create a carbon bed. Photo: Sydner Kemunto

The Kaani landscape and its challenges

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for most people in Kaani, yet unpredictable weather patterns and limited water resources have made farming a daunting challenge. The land, which once supported food security and economic stability, is rapidly deteriorating, leaving many struggling to sustain their families.

As part of Kenya’s larger dryland ecosystem, Kaani’s challenges are deeply connected to national and global environmental concerns. Kenya, like many countries in the Global South, faces increasing pressure due to climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss. The need for sustainable, community-led solutions is urgent, not just for Kaani but for the nation’s broader ecological and agricultural stability. 

While government policies and national climate action strategies exist, grassroots efforts play a crucial role in restoring degraded lands, preserving biodiversity and building resilience among the most vulnerable communities. This is where our work in Kaani through Kijani Mtaani comes in.

A learning session where we teach about the care of food trees in our first language. Photo: Sydner Kemunto

Kijana na Ardhi: a youth-led restoration initiative

Through Kijani Mtaani, we launched Kijana na Ardhi, a project that empowers young people, particularly women, in small-scale farming and land restoration. Many young women in Kaani have been historically marginalized in agriculture despite their crucial role in food production. Social norms, limited resources and inadequate access to training have prevented them from fully participating in regenerative agriculture. 

Through this project, we equip young women with the skills and knowledge to lead in climate action by integrating sustainable farming practices, climate awareness and community-driven solutions to combat land degradation

Building on this mission, our approach is rooted in agroecology and nature-positive agriculture, incorporating techniques that enhance soil health, conserve water and promote biodiversity. Our work goes beyond environmental restoration by directly addressing food and water justice in Kaani. By equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to engage in sustainable agriculture, we are strengthening climate resilience and economic empowerment in our community.

A hands-on demonstration of how to plant food trees using water-conserving techniques in the Kaani dryland. Photo: Sydner Kemunto

Our goals for this year

In 2025, our team at Kijani Mtaani aims to scale up our restoration efforts by relying on strong community participation. Engaging more young women and smallholder farmers in sustainable land management will be key to driving meaningful change. 

We plan to collaborate with local leaders to advocate for policies and infrastructure that ensure better water access for farming communities. Through partnerships and community-led initiatives, we will expand our tree-planting efforts, prioritizing Indigenous and fruit-bearing trees that thrive in our climate.

Additionally, we are developing educational workshops tailored to our community’s needs, ensuring that climate awareness is communicated in local languages and through culturally relevant storytelling. By fostering greater community involvement, we can create lasting solutions for land restoration and resilience.

One of the dedicated young small-scale farmers who is part of Sydner’s project on land restoration in Kaani. Photo: Sydner Kemunto

The impact of our work on Kaani’s community

Our restoration efforts are already making a tangible difference in Kaani. Young women previously excluded from decision-making processes in agriculture are now actively leading restoration projects. Through peer-to-peer learning, they are sharing knowledge on climate-resilient farming techniques, breaking gender barriers and changing perceptions about who can participate in sustainable agriculture.

Most importantly, our work is fostering a sense of community ownership over land restoration. More and more young people in Kaani are beginning to see that protecting the environment is not just about climate action; it’s about ensuring a future where they and their families can thrive. This is why restoration is a community effort,it requires all of us to take responsibility and work together towards a more sustainable and resilient landscape.

A collective effort by Kijani Mtaani members to plant a pixie orange tree while applying the high-density mulching technique in Kaani. Photo: Sydner Kemunto

Our Kijana na Ardhi project is a movement driven by the belief that young people can be the agents of change in restoring our lands. Collectively, we can turn the tide against land degradation and ensure that our neighborhood remains green, thriving and full of life.