{"id":61759,"date":"2026-10-10T19:27:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T19:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=61759"},"modified":"2026-10-10T19:29:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T19:29:56","slug":"mazingira-day-2026-why-protecting-nairobis-forests-matters-to-every-resident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/blog\/61759\/mazingira-day-2026-why-protecting-nairobis-forests-matters-to-every-resident\/","title":{"rendered":"Mazingira Day 2026: Why protecting Nairobi\u2019s forests matters to every resident"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As Kenya marks Mazingira Day 2026<\/strong>, tree-planting drives are kicking off across the country, from our local neighborhoods to rural hubs. It\u2019s always inspiring to see Kenyans show up with jembes in hand, ready to green the nation. For a rapidly growing Nairobi, however, the decisions that will matter most extend beyond what we plant this October. They include what we choose to protect every day of the year.<\/p>\n\n

This contrast between tree planting and systemic protection was brought into sharp focus in Kareita Forest<\/strong>, a critical section of the Aberdares water tower that feeds Nairobi’s reservoirs. Walking through Kareita and seeing the destruction left behind by massive commercial logging activity makes one thing clear: planting new saplings cannot offset the immediate loss of mature, functional ecosystems. It is precisely this reality that led civil society groups, Greenpeace Africa, and frontline community defenders to march to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. Handing over more than 60,000 petition signatures, citizens demanded an immediate halt to deforestation, an enforced logging ban, firm action against land grabbing, and transparent community forest governance. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

What is happening in primary watersheds like Kareita directly impacts urban sanctuaries closer to home, such as Karura, Ngong Road Forest, and Oloolua. We all know them as go-to spots for a weekend run, a family picnic, or a peaceful escape from the city hustle. Beyond recreation, though, these forests function as vital public infrastructure that protect the city. They clean our air, cool down hot urban stretches, absorb storm run-off, and keep the city breathable. Once a mature canopy is cleared and forest soil is paved over with concrete, replacing those natural systems is neither quick, cheap, nor easy. Regenerating these complex natural systems takes generations, and intensifying extreme weather patterns further complicate restoration efforts.<\/p>\n\n

This issue hits close to home as Nairobi plans for a growing population. We urgently need affordable housing, better transit, and modern facilities. But we can’t ignore the realities of intense heatwaves, sudden flash flooding, and water security challenges that come with uncoordinated development. Protecting forest land isn’t a barrier to progress but it has to be treated as core infrastructure right at the center of Nairobi\u2019s long-term master planning.<\/p>\n\n

Kenya\u2019s climate commitments are well respected on the global stage. In Kanairo<\/em>, we have a prime opportunity to show the world what those international conservation targets actually look like when executed in a rapidly growing modern African metropolis.<\/p>\n\n

Recent decisions affecting its forests show why sound forest governance matters. In February 2026, the Environment and Land Court invalidated approvals for a proposed private development in Ngong Road Forest after finding shortcomings in the approval process, including public participation. A court ruling can correct an unlawful decision, but it cannot instantly restore land or lost ecosystems that have already been disturbed. Clear planning rules, publicly available assessments and early engagement with communities can help prevent such disputes before projects proceed.<\/p>\n\n

Real urban conservation must also be fair and accessible to everyone. Major hubs like Karura are essential anchors, but quality of life in Nairobi depends on what’s available right outside homes. Everyone deserves well-maintained green spaces, tree-lined streets, and clean, restored river corridors. Protecting major forest reserves should therefore be matched by investment in accessible green spaces across Nairobi\u2019s wards, particularly where residents have few such places nearby.<\/p>\n\n

This Mazingira Day also gives us a chance to re-think how we measure success. Handing out and planting thousands of seedlings makes for great photo ops, but long-term success comes down to tree survival, growth of indigenous canopy, recovery of degraded areas and the condition of existing forests.<\/p>\n\n

Protecting these natural assets doesn’t compete with economic growth or infrastructure expansion. Forest protection, well-designed infrastructure and better access to public green space can all be part of a coherent development strategy. So, the policy choice is not whether Nairobi should grow. It is whether we plan that growth with a full account of what existing ecosystems provide and what it would cost to lose them.<\/p>\n\n

This Mazingira Day, Kenya can give its global conservation commitments a clear local meaning.<\/strong> In Nairobi, that means safeguarding existing forests, restoring degraded land, and measuring success long after the planting ceremonies end.<\/p>\n\n

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Dr. Oulie Keita<\/p>\n

Greenpeace Africa Executive Director<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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