In recent years, China has achieved remarkable success in transforming its northern deserts into thriving green landscapes through innovative soil treatment and mass tree plantation. This inspiring example offers a beacon of hope for regions facing similar challenges, such as North-eastern and Northern Kenya, where drought and starvation prevail during the dry seasons.
The northern part of China was famously known for its dryness and desert-like nature until recently, when China started experimenting with different soil-treatment methods and vegetating the area through mass tree plantations. By applying various scientific methods, China has successfully transformed its northern deserts into plots of vegetation and continues to increase vegetative cover.
North-eastern and Northern Kenya typically turn into deserts during the sunny season. Starvation and drought affect both humans and animals during such periods. There is a huge difference between the region during rainy and sunny seasons. During the rainy season, floods are a menace, while in the dry season, starvation looms, rivers dry up, and winds become stormy—extremes to be avoided.
Water harvesting, soil treatment, and vegetating the area should be considered as methods to address these issues. For instance, during the rainy season, surface runoff should be harvested and directed to reservoirs. This can start with small, government-funded schemes aimed at gradually transforming the land into greenery.
Transformation schemes should set up camp in a given village, where water is likely to collect according to expert data and analytics. They should build reservoirs and use the water for vegetation production during the dry season.
The essential thing is to start bringing life into the area, drop by drop. Through careful planning and execution, North-eastern and Northern Kenya can follow in China’s footsteps and turn their arid lands into fertile, green landscapes.
