Our Project
This project will enhance the knowledge and understanding of the important role of smallholder pasture management for biodiversity in the Kenyan highlands. It will determine the effect of smallholders’ pasture management practices on biodiversity or their trade-offs and synergies with climate resilience, green house gas emissions and livestock productivity.
This project brings together scientists drawn from Bangor University’s School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), University of Manchester, National Museums of Kenya, University of Eldoret and Country partners (counties and equity group foundation).
This is a three-year project financed by the UK Government’s GCBC initiative.
Project Background
Smallholder pasture management plays an important role for biodiversity in the Kenyan highlands. However, little is known about the effect of smallholders’ pasture management practices on biodiversity or their trade-offs and synergies with climate resilience, greenhouse gas emissions and livestock productivity. Adopting a multi- and transdisciplinary approach, we will investigate these interrelationships and stimulate citizen science and farmer to farmer scaling, complemented by modelling of the potential bottlenecks and opportunities to greater use of these practices. More nuanced recommendations for policy makers will enable the scaling of these practices to similar contexts in the African region.
Our Activities
To achieve the project goals we will seek to answer the following research questions:
- Which current smallholder dairy farming pasture management practices are correlated with improved biodiversity and soil health, reduced GHG emission intensities, and increased productivity?
- How much does vegetative biodiversity contribute to the improved climate resilience of pastures?
- What are the trade-offs among biodiversity, soil health, production, and GHG EI indicators for different pasture management practices?
- What characterizes positive deviance at a smallholder farm household level in terms of biodiverse and climate resilient pasture management?
- What are the potential benefits at the national and regional level for out-scaling biodiverse, climate resilient pastures?
Meet the Team
This project brings together researchers from Bangor University, International Livestock Research Institute, University of Eldoret, University of Manchester and National Museums of Kenya
Dr James Gibbons, Bangor University
Senior Lecturer, specializes in statistical modelling, environmental data analysis, and policy-land use interaction modelling.
Dr Simon Mwaura, Bangor University
Postdoctoral Researcher, Agricultural economist with a focus on environmental economics and data analysis. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Dr Claudia Arndt, International Livestock Research Institute
Team Leader of the Mazingira Centre: Investigates greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, working to develop national inventories and identify mitigation strategies.
Dr Birgit Habermann, International Livestock Research Institute
Scientist: expert in social issues and Participatory Action Research (PAR). Her current work focuses on Farmer2Farmers Scaling working with farmer pioneers in adaptation to climate change.
Dr Sonja Leitner, International Livestock Research Institute
Scientist, an ecologist and biogeochemist working on carbon and nitrogen cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Dr Jesse Gakige, International Livestock Research Institute
Research Officer: an animal nutritionist. His research interest is in reduction of emission intensities from livestock systems in the Tropics.
Leah Gichuki, International Livestock Research Institute
Research Officer, an environment and development specialist who conducts research on farmer-led adaptation practices and technologies.
Emmaculate Kiptoo, International Livestock Research Institute
Research Associate: Agricultural Economist working on livestock adaptation to climate change with adaptation pioneers in Kenya.
Dr Nicholas K. Rop, University of Eldoret
Senior Lecturer, Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Sciences: Contributes to the school's efforts in academics, research, innovation, and extension services in agriculture. University of Manchester.
Kennedy Matheka, National Museums of Kenya
Holds an MSc in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation from the Queen Mary University of London and Royal Botanic Gardens. He has been working as a Research Assistant at National Museums for 16 years and is one of the botanists in charge in the East African Herbarium.
Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester
A renowned ecologist whose main research interest lies in the study of plant-soil interactions and their impact on nutrient cycling and plant community dynamics. National Museum of Kenya.
Project Partners
- KAGRIC
- KFS
- SYSTEMA BIO
- EQUITY FOUNDATION
- NAVCDP
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Contact Us
If you have any questions about this project, please e-mail James Gibbons or telephone +44 1248 382461.
Acknowledgements
The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) is an Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme that funds research into natural solutions to biodiversity loss, climate change, and poverty.
The GCBC is funded by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and managed in partnership with DAI Global (Fund Management Lead) and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Strategic Science Lead).
Disclaimer: This material has been funded by UK International Development Funds; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies
