In this dryland area—unsuitable for agriculture—changing rainfall patterns affect water storage, and excessive grazing has severely degraded vegetation. Wildlife, including elephants, is directly impacted by the loss of vegetation and lack of water, as the area forms a crucial corridor between the lowlands and the highlands of Laikipia. Local communities face the challenges of water scarcity, and pastoralists struggle with shrinking grazing land. These pressures result from expanding human footprints coupled with fenced-off private conservancies, making it increasingly difficult to sustain livelihoods. Efforts to restore the landscape also encounter significant barriers. As vegetation recovers, incentives increase for pastoralists to enlarge their livestock herds, which further depletes resources and causes soil degradation, fueling a vicious cycle. Intensified competition for land and water has increased tensions between different groups, and human–wildlife conflicts are also on the rise. Within this Solutionscape, the Wyss Academy collaborates with seven community conservancies and a range of civil society, government, and private sector organizations.

Together, different interconnected projects explore and implement solutions to restore degraded areas, maintain and strengthen wildlife and livestock connectivity, and enhance livelihood security and resilience for communities. They do so by integrating both traditional and scientific knowledge. Current efforts focus on developing alternative income opportunities beyond livestock to reduce pressure on ecosystems and increase community resilience. At the same time, taking a multilevel approach, the Wyss Academy is engaging local communities, town and county governments, and key national agencies to secure vital wildlife migration corridors essential for long-term species survival. Ongoing activities also focus on providing evidence-informed guidance for new policies to balance environmental conservation with community needs.