Langata Extension – January 2025

Langata contains multiple bund sites. This means we are expanding the site and creating even more impact! Your donation hence contributed to the larger “Langata” bunds plot.

Langata Bund Site: An update from the field…

Regreening is all about community, and Langata is proving just how powerful collective action can be! By December 2024, an incredible 64,497 bunds had been dug—just in time to catch the October-November-December rains. This intervention now spans 796 hectares, bringing new life to an area that was once severely degraded.

Benefits of regreening together 

The success of the Langata bund site is thanks to the dedication of local community members. Since February 2024, 122 people have been working hard to restore their land, supported by 22 trained supervisors. With 60% of the workforce being women, the project is not only bringing environmental change but also providing a vital source of income. Many participants have used their earnings to support their families with essentials like food, school fees, and medical care, ensuring that the benefits of regreening extend beyond the land itself.

Tangible results 

One of the biggest challenges in Langata has been flash floods, which threaten homes and livestock. However, since the bunds were put in place, local communities have reported that flooding has stopped—proving that these simple structures are already making a huge difference! The site received good rainfall, and the results are clear: grasses have germinated inside and outside the bunds, turning dry and degraded land into a thriving green landscape.

Wildlife is returning!

It’s not just people who are benefiting from the restoration—wildlife is, too! Giraffes and zebras have been spotted more frequently, attracted to the fresh grass growing inside the bunds. Even lions and elephants have been seen in the area, a promising sign hinting at the potential for new tourism opportunities that could further support conservation and community development.

To protect the young grasses while they establish themselves, the bunds have been covered with twigs, preventing browsing by wildlife and allowing seeds to disperse naturally for an even greater regreening impact.

Grazing management 

With more vegetation comes increased grazing pressure, but the Langata community is prepared. Grazing committee members are working closely with herders to stress the importance of allowing the land to rest. To ensure full recovery, the committee has committed to keeping the site grazing-free for two years. Eight rangers from the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) are also patrolling the area, monitoring progress, and reinforcing conservation efforts.

What’s next?

The work isn’t over! With ongoing community efforts, more bunds, and continued grazing management, Langata’s transformation will only grow. The next rainy season brings fresh opportunities to restore more land, strengthen the ecosystem, and support livelihoods.

Figure 1 Langata bunds during the December 2024 rains.

Figure 2 A photo of the site before digging September 2024.