When we talk about conservation in Kenya, elephants, rhinos, and big cats often dominate the conversation. But beneath their feet lies one of the most important and often overlooked ecosystems: grasslands. In the Chyulu Hills—a vital corridor between Tsavo and Amboseli—restoring grasslands is proving to be a powerful tool for protecting wildlife, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and supporting pastoralist communities.
A Fragile Balance
Chyulu’s grasslands are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, black rhinos, lions, and giraffes. They also support Maasai pastoralists whose livelihoods depend on healthy rangelands for their cattle. However, climate change, bush encroachment, and overgrazing have degraded these landscapes, reducing the availability of water and forage. As a result, both people and wildlife are pushed into tighter competition over dwindling resources.
“The problem of human-wildlife conflict is a competition problem,” said Camila Donatti, lead author of a recent study on grassland restoration in the Chyulu Hills and a Conservation International expert on climate change adaptation. “When grassland ecosystems are degraded and out of balance, they can’t support wildlife and the livestock that pastoralists raise, which leads to conflict.”
Restoration That Works
In 2022, a Conservation International-led project, in partnership with Apple, began restoring 11,000 hectares of degraded grasslands in the Chyulu Hills. Using techniques like sustainable livestock management, bush thinning, and reseeding with native grasses, the project has not only improved the landscape but also helped reduce conflict.
The study, conducted over 16 months and based on data from more than 1,500 households, found that in areas where grasslands were restored, communities reported a significant decline in human-wildlife conflicts. Conflict in this context included livestock predation, crop raiding, damage to infrastructure, and attacks—both lethal and non-lethal—on people by wildlife.
These findings show that when grasslands are restored, wildlife are more likely to stay within natural ranges rather than encroach on human settlements. Similarly, pastoralists benefit from improved pasture, reducing their need to move livestock into risky or contested areas.
Insights for Tsavo
The lessons from Chyulu Hills are especially relevant to nearby Tsavo, where Tsavo Trust and its partners are actively working on ecosystem restoration through activities such as building sand dams, supporting community conservancies like Kamungi, and reducing human-wildlife conflict. With much of Kenya’s wildlife—including over 70% of elephants—living outside protected areas, healthy habitats like grasslands are critical for long-term conservation success.
Nature-based solutions, such as grassland restoration, are gaining attention as practical strategies that benefit both people and nature. Not only do they enhance biodiversity and climate resilience, but they also reduce tensions between wildlife and communities, strengthening peaceful coexistence.
A Path Forward
The Chyulu Hills project is aiming to restore 20,000 hectares by 2027. While still ongoing, its early success shows that nature-based solutions work when grounded in strong community involvement and science. For Tsavo and other landscapes in Kenya, scaling up similar efforts could make a real difference.
Restoring grasslands won’t solve all challenges, but it’s a vital piece of the puzzle. It gives wildlife space to thrive, strengthens pastoralist resilience, and lays the groundwork for peace.
In a changing climate and a crowded world, this kind of harmony is exactly what our landscapes—and our communities—need.