The report, commissioned by the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) with funding from GIZ under SCIDA III, presents a framework and Operational Manual for Rangeland Health Monitoring across the IGAD region, focusing on the Karamoja cluster in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The framework adopts a multidisciplinary and participatory approach, integrating geospatial analysis, ecological field assessments, indigenous knowledge and community engagement. It identifies key indicators for monitoring vegetation cover, biomass, soil quality, biodiversity, water resources and socioeconomic conditions.
The study highlights variations in rangeland conditions across the region, particularly between Turkana and Karamoja, emphasising the importance of context-specific monitoring and management interventions.
Key recommendations include:
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Establishing standardised, evidence-based rangeland health monitoring systems.
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Integrating satellite observations with community-based ecological assessments.
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Strengthening local capacities through participatory tools such as Participatory Grassland and Rangeland Assessment (PRAGA) and Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM).
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Applying tools such as Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) and Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) to support monitoring and decision-making.
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Regularly reviewing monitoring frameworks to reflect changing ecological and climatic conditions.
Overall, the report provides a practical foundation for strengthening sustainable rangeland management, improving climate resilience and supporting informed decision-making to safeguard pastoral livelihoods and ecosystems across the IGAD region.
