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Empowering Kalacha: Community Dialogue and Youth Engagement on Doum Palm Conservation
In a recent field visit to Kalacha, PASEP facilitated a series of community engagements and stakeholder meetings aimed at advancing the conservation and sustainable use of the doum palm tree—a vital livelihood resource for pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya.
1. Youth Dialogue and Awareness Forum
PASEP convened a focused session with local youth leaders and community mobilizers to raise awareness on the importance of doum palm conservation and its untapped potential in creating green livelihoods. Participants discussed how overharvesting and land degradation threaten this indigenous tree and brainstormed community-driven strategies for replanting and value addition.
Caption: Kalacha youth engaged in an indoor dialogue on environmental conservation and the future of the doum palm.
2. Community Gathering Under the Trees
An open-air dialogue brought together elders, women, and youth to reflect on traditional uses of the doum palm and the shifting climate challenges affecting its sustainability. Community members expressed their strong interest in seedling propagation, water harvesting, and the formation of cooperatives to support the local economy through eco-friendly practices.
Caption: Community members in Kalacha gathered under the trees for an open forum on doum palm use and climate resilience.
3. Stakeholder Planning Meeting
The visit concluded with a multi-stakeholder planning session inside the Kalacha oasis resort. Participants included local administration representatives, women’s group leaders, youth representatives, and PASEP facilitators. The discussions focused on mapping out next steps for a proposed initiative to be supported through donor partnerships, including the installation of water storage systems, nursery development, and market linkages for doum palm products.
Caption: A stakeholder consultation session inside Kalacha Resort to shape upcoming project activities.
Next Steps
PASEP is committed to scaling up this initiative through collaborative resource mobilization and capacity-building efforts. We thank the Kalacha community for their vibrant participation and continued support toward ecological restoration and resilience building.
#DoumPalmConservation | #CommunityResilience | #PASEPKenya
🌿 Restoring Resilience in Kalacha 🌿
Pasep together with local communities in Kalacha are taking the lead in conserving Acacia tortilis — a vital dryland tree that supports both people and the environment.
Through community-based conservation and restoration efforts, we’re:
🌱 Rehabilitating degraded rangelands
💧 Enhancing water retention and soil stability
🐪 Supporting pastoralist livelihoods
🌾 Strengthening climate resilience
Acacia tortilis is more than a tree — it’s a lifeline for ecosystems and a symbol of hope in the face of climate change.
Together, we’re restoring nature. Together, we’re restoring resilience. 💚
📸 Stay tuned for stories from the field.
#KalachaRestoration #AcaciaTortilis #CommunityConservation #ClimateResilience #DrylandForests #PastoralistVoices #RestoreWithNature #GreeningMarsabit
PASEP’s Environmental Conservation & Livelihood Empowerment in Marsabit
The Pastoralists System Empowerment Program (PASEP) continues to champion a holistic approach to environmental conservation in Marsabit County — one that blends ecological restoration with sustainable livelihoods for the pastoralist community.
Doum Palm Conservation in Kalacha
The iconic doum palm tree, native to arid northern Kenya, is central to PASEP’s conservation efforts. In Kalacha, the organization has initiated a community-driven campaign to protect and propagate doum palms. These trees not only help stabilize soils and maintain biodiversity but also offer vital materials for household use and income generation.
(Kalacha doum palm thicket – a vital ecosystem under community stewardship)
Empowering Women through Sustainable Livelihoods
PASEP understands that environmental conservation thrives where communities prosper. That’s why its programs intentionally promote women-led income-generating activities rooted in tradition and sustainability.
In Kalacha and surrounding settlements, local women are trained and supported to:
– Weave mats, baskets, and ropes from doum palm fronds
– Craft traditional roofing materials used in pastoralist huts
– Sell their products in local markets and cultural festivals
These activities reduce dependency on external aid, protect indigenous knowledge, and create dignified economic opportunities — especially for widows, young mothers, and girls out of school.
Water Access for Greener Futures
Water scarcity has always been a major challenge in Marsabit. PASEP’s installation of rainwater harvesting tanks at tree nurseries and training centers ensures that seedlings — and the women who care for them — can thrive even in the dry seasons.
Land Restoration and Climate Adaptation
PASEP supports reforestation with indigenous species, rehabilitating degraded grazing land and encouraging rotational use of rangelands. These activities improve fodder availability and reduce the risk of conflict over natural resources.
From Trees to Trade: A Community-Driven Future
PASEP’s unique model integrates:
– Environmental conservation
– Cultural preservation
– Livelihood empowerment
From protecting the sacred doum palm to reviving forgotten crafts, PASEP is investing in a future where the environment sustains the people — and the people protect the environment.