A new method was developed for characterizing soil degradation status. Soil samples from sediment cores at the mouths of the Nyando river were used to calibrate the spectral features of depositional soils, soils in forest areas were used to calibrate stable soils, and soils in heavily degraded areas used to calibrate erosional areas.  These spectral calibrations were then used to interpolate the soils across the Nyando river basin into erosional, stable and depositional.

More details on the website ;

 http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sites/program1/specweb/home.htm

.A new research protocol – the ‘snowflake’ protocol – was developed for integrated collection and analysis of the biophysical and socio-economic characteristics of land use and degradation.  This protocol is being applied in order to simultaneously collect information on current and historical settlement, land use,  investment, soil characteristics, vegetation, slope and aspect. 

New approaches have been developed and tested for the formulation of Focal Area Development Committees and Common Interest Groups.  After several of the FADCs elected at barazas failed to perform in both the Luo and Kalenjin areas, a new method was developed in which small sub-clan based groups are formed around common interests, then federated together to form FADCs.

Degraded parts of the Rongo catchment have eroded at an average rate of at least 90 tonnes per hectare per year over the last 40 years.  The 137Cs method was used to estimate these erosion rates in two sub-catchments in the Rongo area. This research was conducted by a Swedish student from Uppsala University.

An analysis of deforestation and reforestation in the Tinderet and Kakamega forests for the period 1986 to 2000 has been completed.  This analysis shows that deforestation in this area took 3 distinct forms – expansion of agricultural areas into the forests, reduction in tree density within the forests, and reduction in the density of trees in forest remnants outside of the gazetted forests.  A forestation, on the other hand, occurred within certain parts of the forests and within the agricultural landscapes outside of the forests.  Overall, it appears that forests are being lost while total tree cover is remaining more stable. 

.The sub-surface soils found in the Kano plain are virtually impermeable during the dry season.  An analysis of soil infiltration rates in the Katuk-Odeyo area show average rates of hydraulic conductivity to range from 7.26 meters per day in bushland on the scarp to 5.445 meters per day in bush lands in the hills to 0.359 meters per day in the piedmont plains.  The rate of only 0.029 meters per day was found for sub-surface soils in the piedmont plains.  Crop land had higher infiltration rates than grassland or grazing lands in the piedmont plains.  

A large number of post-graduate students have been attracted to undertake research in conjunction with the project.  Students working with the project are enrolled in Moi, Nairobi, Kenyatta and Egerton Universities in Kenya, and with the Universities

of Uppsala (Sweden), Florida (USA), Utrecht (the Netherlands), Namur (Belgium) and Bonn (Germany).  Several of students have already completed their field studies, adding a great deal to our overall research programme at very little cost to the project. 

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development staff have received training in Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation and GIS. A 9-day training course on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation was put together for 20 MOARD extension

staff from Siaya, Nyando, Nandi and Kericho districts.  A proceedings of that course have been prepared and circulated.  

The NALEP focus on common interest groups and enterprise development is showing very positive signs in some focal areas.  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ICRAF worked together in eight focal areas in 2000 / 2001.  Six

of these areas were located in Nyando District, one in Nandi District and one in Kericho District.  While overall implementation of the NALEP approach was constrained by delays in project finance, there were some successful initiatives with common interest groups and micro-projects. 

Local cultural norms and groupings are crucial to the success of externally-assisted development and conservation initiatives in some parts of the Nyando river basin. 

A study of the socio-cultural constraints and opportunities for improved land management in the Awach catchment was undertaken in 2000 / 2001 by a team

of three researchers.  The Awach catchment is an area of severe land degradation that crosses parts of Nyando and Kericho districts. 

There is almost no land available for locating public infrastructure or for protecting the public interest in the Awach river basin.  Almost all land in the Awach river basin was adjudicated for individual allocation over 20 years ago.  The result is that it is difficult to identify locations for public infrastructure, such as schools or water pans.  Every piece of public infrastructure is in fact located on the land of some individual or individuals.  In addition, land areas that should be excluded from intensive private use  such as gullies and catchment areas – are also under private ownership.