Desert landscape services: Insights from pastoralist communities in northern Kenya

Deserts are often considered a low priority landscape in terms of ecosystem services. However, this evaluation may shift once deserts are also considered in terms of geodiversity and human-landscape interactions. We investigated which landscape services (LS) are provided by the desert landscape to two pastoralist communities (Gabra and Borana) in northern Kenya. We organized ten focus-group discussions (five male and five female) in both communities to identify LS, assess which plant and wild animal species were considered to be most important, and discuss the potential positive and negative impacts of future infrastructure development projects. All groups identified provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural LS, and distinguished which services were from biological or geological origin. Some differences were observed between groups, but all identified freshwater, pasture, and physical and mental well-being (freedom of movements and peace) as the most important LS. Differences were also observed in the species identified as important: e.g., Borana groups mentioned more plant species for medicine and fodder compared to Gabra groups. Both groups anticipated positive and negative impacts of future development projects but were unaware of the planned railway and oil pipeline infrastructure which will cross their community conservancies. The unique attachment to the desert, shared by Gabra and Borana communities, could serve as common ground to unify efforts to protect their landscapes. Participants? responses demonstrate that identity, physical and mental well-being, and geological LS should be better integrated into landscape (or ecosystem) service assessments.

Automated summary

The study in northern Kenya found that both the Gabra and Borana communities value the desert landscape for its landscape services, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. They identified freshwater, pasture, and physical and mental well-being as the most important landscape services provided by the desert. Despite some differences, both communities anticipated both positive and negative impacts of future development projects.