{"id":56872,"date":"2025-01-15T16:24:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T16:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=56872"},"modified":"2025-01-22T08:20:10","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T08:20:10","slug":"construction-or-destruction-how-kenyas-development-plans-are-pushing-forests-to-the-brink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/press\/56872\/construction-or-destruction-how-kenyas-development-plans-are-pushing-forests-to-the-brink\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction or destruction? How Kenya’s development plans are pushing forests to the brink"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

16 January, 2024<\/em>, Nairobi, Kenya<\/strong> \u2014 Greenpeace Africa is deeply concerned about the ongoing destruction<\/a> of Kenya\u2019s vital forests, with recent developments threatening critical ecosystems in the\u00a0Aberdare,\u00a0Karura, and\u00a0Suam\u00a0forests. These forests are crucial for Kenya\u2019s environmental health, biodiversity, and climate stability, yet they are increasingly being undermined by development projects masquerading as “progress.”<\/p>\n\n

One of the most alarming developments is the Kenyan government\u2019s plan to allocate\u00a050 acres\u00a0of\u00a0Suam Forest\u00a0in\u00a0Trans Nzoia County<\/a>\u00a0for the construction of a border town and\u00a0 housing project to support a one-stop border post with Uganda. This proposal is a direct threat to the integrity of Suam Forest, and reflects a disregard for the long-term ecological consequences of such projects.<\/p>\n\n

Additionally, Karura Forest, an iconic symbol of Kenya\u2019s environmental conservation, is under threat. Although the High Court has issued a temporary injunction<\/a> stopping the government from taking approximately 51 acres of Karura Forest for Kiambu Road expansion, ongoing logging within the forest continues to raise alarm. The government\u2019s defence of this logging is deeply concerning and further highlights the disconnect between environmental protection commitments and on-ground actions.<\/p>\n\n

This move contradicts the Kenyan government\u2019s\u00a0rhetoric\u00a0on environmental conservation. Despite pledging to plant\u00a015 billion trees<\/a>\u00a0as part of its climate action goals, the destruction of forests such as the\u00a0Mau,\u00a0Mount Elgon,\u00a0Karura,\u00a0Suam, and\u00a0Aberdare demonstrates a growing disconnect between political promises and actual policy implementation.<\/p>\n\n

Kenya\u2019s forests are home to rich biodiversity, including endangered species such as the bongo antelope in the Aberdare Range and rare bird species in Karura. These forests also provide essential ecosystem services, including water regulation, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation. Their destruction would have far-reaching consequences on Kenya’s water resources, agricultural productivity, and overall climate stability. It would also devastate local communities who rely on these forests for their livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n

The planned destruction of Kenya\u2019s major forests blatantly contradicts the government\u2019s environmental policies. While the government speaks of protecting the environment, actions like the allocation of Suam Forest land for a housing project reveal a prioritization of short-term gains over long-term sustainability. We cannot afford to continue down this path of environmental degradation.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Africa is calling on the Kenyan government to:<\/p>\n\n