Climate change affects us all, but its impact is already being borne by the most vulnerable: women, children and the disabled in poor rural communities who are already struggling to make a living from the land, says Sarah Ayeri Ogalleh. This environmental scientist focused her research for her MSc degree on helping communities along the River Njoro to manage and preserve the delicate watershed while reaping benefits from it. “Some 500,000 people depend on the river, as well as wildlife, including the famous Lake Nakuru flamingos. Lake Nakuru is an important touristic attraction that provides many jobs directly or indirectly,” explains Ogalleh. But local farmers who clear cut the land have damaged this fragile ecosystem. “Our research found that people perceived trees to have natural regeneration potential and they saw no need to plant them on their farms, resulting in the current state of the watershed.”