Scaling rangeland restoration in drylands through synergies in the biodiversity - water- climate nexus (Restore4More)

Drylands cover nearly half of the global land surface, harbor high biodiversity, and support over 2 billion people and half of the world’s livestock.

Drylands and the livelihoods of the people they support are threatened by the compounding effects of land degradation, biodiversity loss, water insecurity and climate change.

In East Africa, most of these drylands are rangelands that support pastoralist communities and where these challenges are particularly acute. Restoring degraded rangelands is critical to address these interlinked crises and enhance human wellbeing. However, significant knowledge gaps limit effective rangeland restoration at scale.

In Restore4More, we will address many of these gaps and generate knowledge on the biodiversity-water-climate nexus that can contribute to large-scale, long-lasting, and effective rangeland restoration in the drylands of East Africa for increased climate change adaptation and mitigation, enhanced biodiversity, and water and food security.

We will conduct transdisciplinary research with key stakeholder groups using a co-learning and knowledge exchange approach.

We will use a unique combination of field data and experiments, Earth Observation, modeling, participatory action research and mixed methods, and leverage research infrastructure, networks, and projects.

The project will provide policymakers and restoration practitioners with robust science-based evidence and tools to support and guide rangeland restoration efforts at scale.