Welcome to AFAS

Protected areas, often described as sanctuaries for biodiversity, are central pillars for global biodiversity conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines them as clearly defined geographical spaces, recognized, dedicated, and managed through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values (Dudley, 2008, p8).

From 23rd of February to 1st of March 2025, I had an opportunity to attend the Drylands Summer School in Isiolo, Kenya that brought together master’s and PhD students with research interest in pastoralism in drylands. One of the objectives of the summer school was to debate on pastoral livelihoods through the lens of social, ecological and political perspectives. In the following sections, I explore key issues that arose during the summer school that are often overlooked and those which play a critical role in the dryland pastoral context.

On 22nd November 2024, AFAS second cohort students from the University of Nairobi had an excursion to Yatta Farm, run under the umbrella of Christian Impact Mission (CIM) – a faith-based organisation – to learn about the practical aspects of nature-based solutions (NbS) and science-policy-practice interfaces (SPPIs) implemented within the agriculture sector in Kenya’s savannas…