Environmental conservation groups have accused the government of undermining its ambitious tree-growing agenda by allowing the continued destruction of existing forests and public green spaces for development projects
Speaking during a joint press briefing in Nairobi, Prof. Karanja Njoroge, Board Chair of Friends of Karura Forest, who delivered the keynote address, said Kenya could not claim to be restoring forests while simultaneously clearing mature indigenous ecosystems.
“We cannot plant millions of trees while destroying the forests we already have. A mature indigenous forest is not merely a collection of trees, but a living ecosystem that supports biodiversity, protects water catchments, stores carbon, regulates temperatures and sustains livelihoods,” said Prof. Njoroge.
Additionally, he argued that once destroyed, such ecosystems could not simply be replaced by planting seedlings elsewhere, insisting that Kenya risked undermining its commitments under international climate agreements and its target of increasing tree cover through the national tree-growing programme.
Prof. Njoroge further expressed concern over proposed developments affecting forests and green spaces, including the planned Talanta Sports City and associated infrastructure at Ngong Road Forest, developments in Imenti Forest-Meru, road expansion projects, and continued threats facing Uhuru Park and City Park.
The Chair urged the government to pursue development without sacrificing ecologically sensitive areas, noting that Kenya’s forests remain critical to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, tourism and water security.
“We are not against development. We are asking that development be planned responsibly. There is other land available. Forests should not be the first option,” he implored.
Importantly, the conservationists also questioned the silence of institutions mandated to protect the environment including the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Environment.
According to Prof. Njoroge, every decision that compromises forests and protected areas weakens Kenya’s credibility on climate action and violates citizens’ constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
Concurrently, Job Mwangi, Advocacy Manager at the Green Belt Movement, said Kenya should shift its focus from measuring tree cover to protecting existing forest ecosystems.
He noted that forests continue to face pressure from illegal logging, charcoal production, settlement and land conversion despite government commitments to restore degraded landscapes.
“Scientific evidence shows that indigenous forests provide ecosystem services that newly planted trees cannot immediately replace. Every hectare of forest lost makes our cities hotter, our rivers weaker and our climate more unpredictable,” Mwangi reiterated.
He added that Nairobi was already experiencing rising temperatures, worsening air pollution and increased flooding linked to the steady loss of urban green spaces.
Further, the Manager called on all government agencies, public institutions and private developers to comply with court orders, halt activities that threaten forests and uphold the rule of law in environmental governance.
He at the same time urged Parliament to safeguard Kenya’s forests, warning that continued degradation would negatively affect biodiversity, eco-tourism and future generations.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Wambaa, Board Secretary of Friends of City Park, raised concern over the continued threat facing Nairobi’s public parks, particularly City Park, which she said remains affected by unresolved land ownership disputes and governance challenges.
She observed that City Park is among the few remaining public recreational spaces in Nairobi that are freely accessible and should therefore be protected for public benefit.
“We need clarity on ownership and proper protection of this public land so that future generations can continue enjoying these green spaces,” Wambaa urged.
She also called for the preservation of mature trees threatened by road expansion projects, pointing out that they play a critical role in reducing urban heat, improving air quality and absorbing carbon dioxide.
On his part, Akshay Vishwanath, Executive Director of Just Act, criticized recent amendments to the Forest Conservation and Management Act, arguing that provisions allowing easements within public forests could open the door to further encroachment.
He maintained that the constitutional mandate to oversee public land rests with the National Land Commission and questioned attempts to transfer that responsibility elsewhere.
Vishwanath also faulted environmental agencies for failing to speak out against developments affecting forests, citing delayed responses to proposed projects in Imenti Forest and Nairobi National Park.
“The institutions established to protect forests and wildlife must demonstrate leadership instead of remaining silent while environmentally sensitive areas are converted into construction sites,” he stressed.
In the meantime, the lobby groups called on the government to halt all developments that threaten forests, national parks and public green spaces, insisting that environmental conservation and economic development must go hand in hand.
They also conveyed condolences to the family of the late Esther Kege, a former legal officer at the Kenya Forest Service, describing her as a dedicated advocate for forest conservation.
The conservationists urged Kenyans, Parliament and environmental agencies to act decisively to safeguard the country’s remaining forests, warning that failure to do so would leave future generations to bear the cost of today’s environmental destruction.
By Paskal Osonga and Sallo Gobana
