Local communities in Kenya are bringing life back to an entire ecosystem: The Ramat model

“My name is David Ngorori. I am the chairman of this region called Skim. In our community, ‘Ramat’ means ‘to take care of’, coming together to take care of our land. For years, we watched our land degrade due to deforestation, overgrazing, and climate change. Dust storms swept through our villages, and the indigenous trees that once provided shade, medicine, and food for our livestock disappeared. We knew something had to change.” 

Local climate challenges and their Impact 

Marsabit County, located in Kenya’s northern drylands, has long struggled with desertification and land degradation. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and human activities such as unsustainable land use have contributed to the loss of tree cover. For pastoralist communities, who move with their livestock in search off land and water, like the Samburu community, this loss directly impacts them. It affects livelihoods, water sources, and biodiversity. With fewer trees, the soil becomes dry and eroded, leading to increased dust storms and reduced grazing land. The county was once a thriving habitat for elephants. It was also home to endangered wildlife species such as the Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, leopards, lions, and a variety of indigenous bird species. As a result, some species have disappeared entirely due to the lack of water and food. 

How is the local community addressing this issue? 

Determined to revive their land, community members in Marsabit County have taken matters into their own hands. Through Nature and People As One (NAPO), a partner under the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) program, they were introduced to the Ramat Model, a community-driven approach to natural regeneration. 

Working closely with other local leaders, the Samburu community developed by-laws to protect indigenous trees. These by-laws outline which trees should be conserved and how to identify them by marking them with paint. To ensure compliance, the community agreed on penalties for cutting protected trees, a fine of Ksh5,000 or the equivalent value of a goat. 

Local women in Marsabit taking care of the Acia tree – Photo: Chris Kirimi 

The Specific Solution: The Ramat Model in Action 

The Ramat Model is a farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) technique, adapted for rangeland restoration. It follows these key steps: 

• Identifying resilient indigenous trees that can withstand drought and require only rainfall to survive.
• Marking trees with paint as a communal sign that they should not be cut down.
• Regularly weeding and pruning trees to encourage growth and regeneration.
• Enforcing community by-laws to protect the trees and ensure long-term restoration. 

Since implementing Ramat, the community has ‘saved’ over 13,000 trees in just one year, significantly transforming the landscape. The air feels fresher, the soil is starting to hold moisture again, and wild animals—elephants, giraffes, and zebras—are returning to areas where they haven’t been seen in years. The acacia trees are not just restoring the land; they are bringing life back to an entire ecosystem.  

How Did VCA Facilitate This Solution? 

The Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) program has played a key role in empowering the Samburu community to lead climate adaptation efforts through indigenous knowledge systems. VCA, through WWF-Kenya and partners like NAPO, has: 

• Provided technical support and training on sustainable rangeland restoration.
• Facilitated policy engagement, helping communities establish local by-laws that formalize conservation efforts.
• Strengthened collaboration between communities and local governments, ensuring long-term governance structures support locally led climate solutions. 

Jacqueline Kimeu, Climate Change & Energy Coordinator untill 2025, highlights the importance of this initiative: 

“The beauty of this model is that it’s locally led. The Samburu community is using indigenous knowledge to conserve and restore their ecosystem. This is what VCA is about, supporting communities to actively participate in climate action and amplifying the solutions that work for them.” 

Community members are fined Ksh5,000 for cutting down any of the marked trees or have to give out a goat valued the same amount.