The Acacia Operation Project:a pilot activity for combating desertification and improving the livelihood of pastoralist in the arid rangelands of Kenya

摘要

The Acacia Operation Project (AOP) was a pilot project supporting food security and rural development of gums and resins in the African Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, Niger, Senegal and Sudan ( AOP document, 2003).It was a preparatory phase of a 10‐year programme in the framework of the Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa.The overall objective was to contribute to sustainable development and food security and to combat desertification through the promotion and integration of gums and resins in rural economies.In Kenya, the project was piloted in the Samburu and Marsabit Districts from 2004‐2006.The specific aim was to rehabilitate degraded land by planting A cacia senegal using novel water harvesting technologies and improving livelihoods through promotion of gum and resin production.This paper reports on outcomes, challenges and lessons learnt and implications for long term programme engagement in Kenya.