Community-Led Agroforestry and Land Restoration Initiative in Galkacyo District, Puntland, Somalia

Our Mission

Horn Nature Conservation is committed to restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening climate resilience, and improving sustainable livelihoods in Puntland, Somalia. We believe that healthy soils, productive farmland, and thriving ecosystems are essential for food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Through community-led agroforestry and sustainable land management, we work to empower farmers to restore their land while improving agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change.

Background & Problem Statement

Galkacyo District, located in the semi-arid drylands of Puntland, with approximately 400 small-scale farmers each cultivating averagely 1.5 Hectares of land, faces growing environmental challenges caused by climate change, recurrent droughts, improper tillage systems, unsustainable land clearing, and the absence of agroforestry practices. As many communities transition from traditional pastoralism to farming and agro-pastoral livelihoods, agricultural land has become increasingly degraded due to improper tillage systems, which clear all trees and destroy forests, leaving no trees behind.

These challenges have resulted in soil erosion and declining soil fertility, reduced soil moisture retention, Loss of indigenous vegetation and biodiversity, increased desertification, reduced agricultural productivity, Increased vulnerability of farming households to drought and climate shocks

Without immediate intervention, land degradation will continue to threaten food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem health across the district.

Our Solution

Our solution is to promote agroforestry in 15 agricultural villages within Galkacyo district (Galkacyo, Bayra, Cagaaran, Daarusalam, Heeam, Xarfo, Godog, Gacnofale, Roox, Fardoharis, Fardocunayal, Qorilay, Taracaso, Afwayn, afwayn and Jeexdin) through community-led agroforestry, a practical and sustainable solution to restore degraded agricultural land while improving livelihoods and productivity.

The project will engage the community, establish a community tree nursery center, develop an educational video on agroforestry, develop a climate-smart agriculture manual, and establish and train 15 agro-ecological mobilizers for 15 villages.

These tree species improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, enhance soil moisture retention, reduce erosion, provide animal fodder, improve household nutrition, and increase climate resilience.

Project Activities

The initiative will implement the following activities:

Conduct community mobilization and stakeholder engagement meetings across 15 agricultural villages to raise awareness, promote community ownership, and facilitate participation in agroforestry and land restoration activities.
Establish a Community Tree Nursery and Agroforestry Learning Center to produce and distribute climate-resilient tree seedlings and serve as a demonstration site for sustainable land management practices.
Develop and disseminate an agroforestry training manual to support farmer learning and adoption of best practices.
Produce and broadcast agroforestry awareness and behaviour-change communication videos through local media platforms to promote sustainable land management and environmental stewardship.
Identify, establish, and train 15 Community Agro-Ecological Mobilizers to provide local extension support to farmers, monitor farmers, and provide community-level technical assistance.
Conduct regular monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities to assess project performance, restoration outcomes, adoption of agroforestry practices, and overall impacts on land productivity and community resilience.

Opportunity and Long-Term Vision

The initiative presents an opportunity to demonstrate how agroforestry can restore degraded land while creating economic and environmental benefits for local communities. Beginning in Galkacyo District, the model is designed to be scalable across Puntland.

By 2030, Horn Nature Conservation aims to support approximately 30,000 farmers, each managing an average of 1.5 hectares, and contribute to the restoration of approximately 45,000 hectares of degraded agricultural land across Puntland.

The initiative will also contribute to improved food security, increased livestock fodder availability, and biodiversity conservation, reduced desertification, Enhanced drought resilience, Improved household incomes, and livelihoods

Community-Led Approach

The project is designed and implemented in partnership with farmers' associations, community leaders, local authorities, women, and youth groups. Agro-Ecological Mobilizers selected from the community will provide ongoing support and technical guidance within their communities, ensuring local ownership and long-term sustainability.

By combining local knowledge with proven agroforestry practices, the initiative creates practical solutions that are environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and economically beneficial.

Tracking Impact

The project will establish a monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and measure impact. Key indicators include:

Number of farmers reached through community engagement,
Number of Agro-Ecological Mobilizers established
Number of Agro-Ecological Mobilizers trained
Number of Hectares of land restored
How many farmers adopted agroforestry practices
Increase in production per farmer
Community participation in awareness activities
Household resilience to drought and climate shocks

Lessons learned and restoration outcomes will be documented and shared with communities, government institutions, and development partners to support scaling and replication across Puntland.

Our Experience

Horn Nature Conservation is a Puntland-based environmental organization working on land restoration, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and community empowerment. Through partnerships with local communities, government institutions, and development partners, the organization promotes practical solutions that address environmental degradation while improving livelihoods and strengthening resilience to climate change.