Embu initiative links ecosystem restoration to water security
Landscape restoration efforts in Embu County are gaining momentum through partnerships aimed at protecting natural resources, improving water security and strengthening communities’ ability to cope with climate-related challenges.
The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) participated in the launch of the Kenya Scouts Association’s UNICEF-funded Greening Rising Project in Embu West Sub-County, bringing together government agencies, environmental organisations and education stakeholders to promote sustainable landscape management.
TARDA was represented by its Tana Basin Regional Coordinator, Joses Mugambi, who reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to environmental conservation through partnerships that support catchment protection, tree growing and sustainable water resource management.
The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Landscape Management Board and Rainforest Alliance, with participation from the Embu County Government, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), UNICEF and school representatives.
The collaboration seeks to advance landscape restoration by encouraging stakeholders to work together in protecting ecosystems and improving the management of natural resources. Such interventions are important in safeguarding water catchments, reducing environmental degradation and strengthening the resilience of communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.
During the engagement, Mugambi proposed extending the project’s restoration activities to the buffer zone around Kiambere Dam, an important water infrastructure facility within the Tana River Basin. The proposal received approval from participating stakeholders, creating an opportunity to extend environmental restoration efforts to the area.
Protecting the land surrounding dams and other water bodies is important for maintaining water quality, reducing soil erosion and limiting the movement of sediment into reservoirs. When vegetation is lost and land is poorly managed, rainfall can carry soil and other pollutants into rivers and reservoirs, potentially affecting water storage, treatment and supply.
Restoring degraded landscapes through tree growing and catchment management can help improve soil stability, support biodiversity and protect the natural systems that sustain water resources. The proposed extension to the Kiambere Dam buffer zone therefore presents an opportunity to connect local environmental conservation activities with broader water resource protection objectives in the Tana Basin.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of ensuring that environmental programmes respond to practical community needs, particularly in institutions facing challenges related to water supply and climate preparedness.
TARDA received recognition for supporting the rehabilitation of a borehole at St. Luke School for the Deaf. The intervention demonstrated the connection between water infrastructure and the welfare of vulnerable communities, including learners who require dependable water supplies for drinking, sanitation and other daily activities.
However, the school identified additional needs, including tree seedlings, food supplies and water storage tanks, to improve its preparedness for anticipated El Niño conditions.
Reliable water storage is particularly important during periods of uncertain rainfall, when communities and institutions may experience interruptions in supply or face challenges managing available water. Storage facilities can help schools maintain essential services when water sources become unreliable.
The request for tree seedlings also reflects the need to combine immediate community support with longer-term environmental interventions. Tree growing can contribute to landscape rehabilitation, improve soil protection and support the recovery of degraded areas when accompanied by appropriate management and maintenance.
The anticipated El Niño conditions further underline the importance of strengthening local preparedness through water storage, environmental conservation and coordinated support from public institutions and development partners.
For TARDA, the engagement reinforces the relationship between landscape restoration and sustainable water resource management across the Tana and Athi River basins. Healthy catchments are essential for maintaining river flows, protecting reservoirs and supporting the communities and economic activities that depend on water.
The authority’s participation also demonstrates the role of partnerships in bringing together environmental expertise, public resources and community priorities to address interconnected challenges.
By working with county governments, conservation organisations, schools and other stakeholders, restoration programmes can extend beyond tree planting to include the protection of water sources, rehabilitation of degraded land and improvement of community resilience.
The Greening Rising Project launch in Embu West provided a platform for stakeholders to identify opportunities for expanding these interventions, including the proposed restoration work around Kiambere Dam.
Sustained collaboration, adequate resources and continued community participation will be important in ensuring that the initiative delivers lasting environmental benefits while addressing local needs.
The initiative highlights the importance of treating landscape restoration as part of a wider strategy for water security, ecosystem protection and climate resilience, with benefits extending to both present and future generations.
