Restoring Degraded Landscapes in Kenya & Tanzania 

Justdiggit works hand in hand with local partners and communities to restore previously degraded land in Africa through the promotion of natural regreening techniques. The Spronck Foundation supports two of Justdiggit’s core programmes: the Water Bund Programme in Kenya and the Treecovery programme in Tanzania. 

In Southern Kenya, community members dig semi-circular water bunds or ‘Earth Smiles’ in severely degraded, communally-owned land. These earth smiles excavate the hard top-layer of the soil and harvest rainwater. This stimulates the return of native grasses and vegetation. As the grasslands restore, grazing committees then ensure that the land is managed sustainably. Returning vegetation provides food for livestock and restores habitat for biodiversity. In this way, pastoralist communities in Kenya increase their livelihood resilience whilst restoring nature. 

In Central Tanzania, farmers apply ‘Treecovery’ by selecting, protecting, and pruning shoots that grow from existing root systems. This natural approach is highly cost-effective, as it relies on resources already present in the landscape and leads to significantly higher tree survival rates than conventional tree planting in this region. Trees within farmland reduce erosion, restore the water balance, and increase soil fertility. Meanwhile, farming households benefit from shade, sustainable sources of wood, fruits, and nuts. This ultimately strengthens food security and provides additional opportunities for income generation. 

Justdiggit closely monitors the ecological impact. Updates will be shared twice a year on both this ecological data and also from the field. The first results from the Water Bund Programme are expected in February, and the first Treecovery update will follow in May.