NOLORAMATA Advances Rangeland Restoration Through Controlled Burning in Northern Loliondo
3–4 August 2026 | Northern Loliondo, Tanzania
Supporting healthier rangelands through community-led restoration and responsible fire management
NOLORAMATA, in collaboration with local communities and technical experts from Grumeti Fund, successfully implemented a controlled burning exercise across selected rangeland restoration areas in Northern Loliondo on 3 and 4 August 2026.
The two-day exercise covered more than 200 hectares across Oloipiri, Oloirien, Mondoros and Soitsambu villages, contributing to ongoing efforts to restore degraded rangelands and strengthen sustainable landscape management.
At a Glance
- 200+ Hectares covered
- 4 Participating villages
- 2 Days of implementation
- 3 Key partners in action
NOLORAMATA
- Local communities
- Grumeti Fund
Controlled Burning as Part of Rangeland Restoration
Fire can play an important ecological role in rangeland management when it is carefully planned, controlled and implemented under appropriate conditions.
The August exercise was conducted in areas that had previously been cleared as part of NOLORAMATA’s rangeland restoration work. The controlled application of fire forms part of a broader restoration approach designed to improve rangeland condition, manage accumulated dry vegetation and support the regeneration of pasture.
Rather than being a stand-alone activity, controlled burning is integrated into NOLORAMATA’s wider efforts to promote healthy, productive and resilient rangelands that can continue supporting pastoral livelihoods and ecosystem functions.
Communities at the Heart of Restoration
The success of the exercise was made possible through the active participation of community members from the four participating villages.
Local communities played a central role in the implementation process, bringing their knowledge of the landscape together with technical approaches to responsible fire management. This community-led model is fundamental to NOLORAMATA’s approach to restoration, recognising that long-term landscape recovery depends not only on technical interventions but also on local ownership, participation and collective responsibility.
By involving communities directly in restoration activities, NOLORAMATA is supporting stronger local capacity to manage rangelands sustainably over the long term.
Strengthening Technical Collaboration
The exercise was implemented in collaboration with technical experts from Grumeti Fund, whose expertise in fire management contributed to the planning and implementation of the controlled burning exercise.
The collaboration brought together local ecological knowledge, community participation and technical expertise, demonstrating the value of partnerships in addressing complex landscape-management challenges.
Such collaboration is particularly important in developing responsible approaches to fire that are adapted to local ecological conditions and community land-management priorities.
Restoring Landscapes Across Four Villages
Over the two-day exercise, more than 200 hectares were covered across:
Oloipiri | Oloirien | Mondoros | Soitsambu
The work represents another step in NOLORAMATA’s continuing efforts to restore and sustainably manage rangelands across Northern Loliondo.
Healthy rangelands are essential to pastoral communities, providing pasture and supporting livestock production while contributing to wider ecosystem health and resilience.
From Restoration Activities to Long-Term Landscape Resilience
The controlled burning exercise forms part of a broader, long-term commitment to community-led rangeland restoration and sustainable natural resource management.
NOLORAMATA’s approach recognises that restoring rangelands requires continued action, collaboration and adaptive management. By combining restoration practices with community participation, local knowledge and technical expertise, the organisation is working towards landscapes that are better able to withstand environmental pressures while continuing to support pastoral livelihoods.
The August exercise demonstrates what can be achieved when communities and conservation partners work together around a shared vision for healthy and resilient rangelands.
“Restoration is not only about recovering the land—it is about strengthening the relationship between communities, livestock and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
About NOLORAMATA
NOLORAMATA works to advance community-led rangeland restoration and sustainable natural resource management in Northern Loliondo, Tanzania. Through locally driven restoration initiatives, collaborative partnerships and sustainable land-management approaches, NOLORAMATA supports healthier landscapes, resilient pastoral livelihoods and long-term ecosystem stewardship.
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