Combating climate change from the trenches

Land degradation is a serious cause for concern in sub-Saharan Africa where it affects more than two-thirds of its territory. The heavy reliance on an agriculture that is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the ever-increasing pressure on soil and water resources from growing population are posing severe constraints on food security to those already at high risk of poverty and chronic food shortages. In view of the widespread degradation caused by agricultural activities in semi-arid environments, soil and water conservation measures were introduced in East Africa in the late 1960's. The measures most commonly used in that region are the Fanya-juu terraces, which are constructed using a combination of trenches and mounds.

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