Abstract

Somalia’s arid and semi-arid landscapes face severe degradation due to climate change, recurrent droughts, overgrazing, deforestation, and governance challenges, threatening livelihoods, food security, and national stability. Climate change acts as a risk multiplier, intensifying drought impacts, reducing tree seedling survival, and exacerbating degradation pressures on already fragile ecosystems. Forest and rangeland restoration, anchored in indigenous multipurpose species such as Boswellia and Commiphora, presents a strategic pathway to enhance ecological resilience, diversify livelihoods, and support climate adaptation. Community-led approaches, coupled with secure land tenure, strengthened governance, gender-inclusive participation, and market-oriented value chains, are critical to ensuring sustainable outcomes. Alignment with national policies: Vision 2060, Green Somalia, National Adaptation Plan, NDC 3.0, and continental initiatives including AFR100, GGWI, and Agenda 2063 provides a framework for coherent, scalable, and impactful restoration. This policy brief underscores the ecological, economic, and social imperatives of large-scale restoration in Somalia, highlighting actionable strategies for policymakers, donors, and development partners to transform degraded drylands into productive, climate-resilient landscapes.

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