Environment & Conservation
Knuckles Soil Conservation Bunds
Soil erosion is one of the most critical threats to highland communities in the Knuckles region. CDC’s soil conservation bund programme supports farmers and communities in building practical earth structures that slow erosion, retain water, and restore the productive capacity of hillside land.
Knuckles Region • UdudumbaraAbout this project
Earth bunds that hold the hillside
On steep hillsides in the Knuckles area, unprotected soil washes away with every heavy rain, degrading farmland and silting nearby streams. CDC works with communities to construct contour bunds — low earth walls built along the slope — that capture runoff, reduce erosion, and improve moisture retention in the soil. This low-cost, practical technique makes a lasting difference to both land quality and water availability for farming families.
Technique
Contour soil conservation bunds on hillside agricultural land
Location
Knuckles Region & Ududumbara
Benefit
Reduced soil erosion, improved water retention, and restored farmland productivity for highland communities.
Project Gallery
Bund construction and hillside restoration
Why It Matters
Holding Soil Means Holding Livelihoods
For highland farming families, soil is the foundation of everything. When it washes away, fields become unproductive and communities lose the ability to grow food and earn income. Soil conservation bunds are a proven, affordable way to reverse this trend and give land a chance to recover.
- Significant reduction in topsoil loss on treated hillside plots
- Improved moisture retention supporting year-round cultivation
- Reduced sedimentation in nearby streams and water sources
- Community capacity in simple, replicable land restoration techniques
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CDC’s work continues across conservation, food security, livelihoods, recovery, water access, education, and community enterprise.