community-led restoration

Dryland regeneration begins with a simple shift in thinking: the first crop is infiltration. This article examines how half-moon bunds, zai pits, contour stone lines, farmer-managed natural regeneration, resilient crops, managed grazing, fog harvesting, recycled water, and carefully governed renewable water systems can turn degraded drylands into productive living landscapes. It also warns against spectacle-driven restoration, arguing that successful regeneration depends on water budgets, soil repair, local ownership, ecological safeguards, and livelihood pathways.