Rainwater harvesting - bunds

Nature-based solutions are now recognised as a key element of tackling climate change. Justdiggit, restores desertified, dry land using proven techniques including rainwater harvesting (digging bunds, or ‘earth smiles’). All projects are owned and implemented by communities that live off the land.

Bringing back nature is vital alongside decarbonising the global economy, if we are to maintain a liveable planet. Africa has a young and growing population as well as fertile soil and ideal growing conditions. Sadly, as temperature rise, more and more land is becoming desertified and unusable without intervention.

By breaking open the hard top layer of soil and allowing rainwater to pool and soak into the ground. This one-time intervention ensures less flooding occurs in heavy downpours and less topsoil is washed away. It also enables perennial grass and plant species to return and thrive. Not only does the project bring local employment, including to Masai women, but it also inspires whole communities to regreen their land. Much of the work is close to national parks and helps provide wildlife corridors for endangered species, by connecting wild and semi wild areas.

Justdiggit takes impact measurement very seriously and outline their methodology and metrics in their impact report. So far over 200,000 water bunds have been dug, capturing millions of cubic metres of water and allowing it soak into the soil, and over 60,000 hectares of dry land is under restoration.

29 Oct 2022

Kenya, Africa