Ecological restoration of pastoral landscapes in the drylands of East Africa

The East African drylands cover about 47% of the land surface and host 20 million people. Rural people living in are mainly pastoralists who depend on livestock for both economic social well-being. During dry season, apply strategic mobility to access grazing resources efficiently. However, this strategy has experienced change constraints due various demographic- climate-related challenges. Pastoral lands have been cleared large-scale agriculture while shifted towards agro-pastoralism. This eroded many dryland trees forests leading environmental degradation. review discusses important indigenous that can be utilized ecological restoration as well providing ecosystem goods services. These include gums resins (Acacia, Commiphora Boswellia), fruit (IFTs) (Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica Balanites aegyptiaca), wood (Melia volkensii Terminalia brownie) fodder (Acacia tortilis Faidherbia albida). They not only drought-tolerant but also minimal disruption ecosystem. Various strategies discussed. For successful establishment, seedling planting should integrated with other appropriate practices such natural regeneration, silviculture enrichment sustainable management.  Key words: Ecological restoration, drylands, trees, pastoralism.