by Alan Channer PhD
What is the role of faith in land restoration? Can religious leaders foster regreening? Can faith communities catalyse the spread of farmer-managed natural regeneration?
To answer these questions, and others, CIFOR-ICRAF partnered with OikoDiplomatique to organise a three-day workshop, from 6th-8th April 2022, entitled ‘Faith-based land restoration in Kenya: forging partnerships, developing a strategy’ at the All Africa Conference of Churches in Nairobi.
The workshop was followed by a field visit in Elgeyo Marakwet County (11th-13th April 2022) hosted by Major John Seii, Chair of the Kenya National Council of Elders and the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet.
Objectives
The objectives of the workshop and field visit were:
- To build an understanding of faith communities’ approaches to environmental stewardship, especially through agroforestry and FMNR.
- To forge a team for Kenya’s faith communities’ involvement in restoration.
- To develop a strategy and action plan for Kenya’s faith communities’ involvement in restoration moving forward.
A total of 25 people participated in the workshop, including senior representatives of Christian (Catholic, Anglican, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostalist and Baptist), Muslim and Hindu communities; the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya; faith-based development organisations; peace practitioners, scientists, traditional elders and the Kenyan government.
The key output of the workshop was a Draft Action Plan for a faith-based land restoration coalition in Kenya. Advocacy, capacity-building, partnership-building,trust-building between landscape stakeholders, and restoration projects were identified as key areas for action.
Following the field visit, the synergies of faith-leaders working closely with traditional elders to encourage restoration was identified.
An outcome of the workshop and field visit is that World Vision will facilitate a workshop on ‘’Empowered World View for Land Restoration’’ in Elgeyo Marakwet at the end of June 2022.
