By Kennedy Gakuha and Deborah Cheloti
Environmental groups are warning that Kenya's ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 risks being undermined by the continued loss of mature forests and protected public green spaces to infrastructure and commercial development.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Kenya Forest Environment Education Trust (KFEET) Centre in Nairobi, Friends of Nairobi's Forests and Green Spaces, together with several Community Forest Associations and environmental defenders, accused the government of pursuing development projects that are fragmenting some of the country's most ecologically significant forests and protected areas.
The groups said the destruction of indigenous forests contradicts Kenya's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, arguing that newly planted seedlings cannot replace ecosystems that have taken decades or centuries to develop.
"You cannot claim to restore forests while simultaneously destroying mature ecosystems that have taken decades and, in some cases, centuries to develop," the coalition said in a joint statement.
The conservationists described mature indigenous forests as complex ecosystems that store carbon, regulate temperatures, protect rivers and groundwater, reduce flooding, improve air quality and support biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Pressure on Protected Areas
Among the areas highlighted was Ngong Road Forest, which the groups described as one of Nairobi's most threatened indigenous forests.
They cited several proposed developments within or adjacent to the forest, including a luxury tented camp, a railway line, roads, a contractor's camp and the planned Talanta Sports City. While each project may appear limited in scope, they argued that their cumulative impact could permanently fragment the forest ecosystem.
The coalition also expressed concern over continued development within Nairobi National Park, saying the park has gradually lost wildlife habitat to roads, railways, electricity transmission lines and urban expansion.
The groups opposed proposals to establish a new animal orphanage and a 1,300-vehicle parking facility inside the park, arguing that additional infrastructure would further reduce critical wildlife habitat.
In Meru County, the coalition raised concerns over ongoing developments in Upper Imenti Forest, including the construction of an airstrip, State Lodge and golf course. They said the forest serves as an important water tower, biodiversity hotspot and wildlife corridor whose degradation could affect surrounding communities that depend on it for water and agriculture.
Urban Green Spaces Under Threat
The environmentalists also criticized proposals to widen State House Road through the removal of mature trees along State House Road and Dennis Pritt Road.
They said the trees play a vital role in carbon sequestration, air purification and urban cooling, adding that alternative engineering solutions could accommodate road expansion without sacrificing established tree cover.
The groups further opposed plans that could reduce the size of Uhuru Park through the expansion of Uhuru Highway, describing the park as both a national monument and one of Nairobi's most important public recreational spaces.
City Park was also identified as being at risk due to longstanding land disputes, governance challenges and encroachment. The coalition called for a comprehensive rehabilitation and management plan to safeguard the historic park.
Questions Over Environmental Governance
The conservationists said Kenya continues to lose mature forest cover despite growing scientific evidence that old-growth forests provide ecological services that newly planted trees cannot immediately replicate.
According to the coalition, the loss of indigenous forests contributes to rising urban temperatures, declining water security, worsening air pollution and increased flooding.
The groups also alleged that some development projects have continued despite court orders suspending construction, raising concerns about compliance with environmental laws.
"Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it is the foundation upon which constitutional governance, environmental justice and the protection of Kenya's natural heritage depend," the statement said.
The coalition questioned the response of institutions responsible for protecting forests and wildlife, including the Ministry of Environment, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Environment Management Authority, saying stronger enforcement is needed to safeguard protected ecosystems.
Calls for Action
The groups urged the government to halt projects that would result in the destruction or excision of public forests and green spaces unless they are supported by transparent public participation, comprehensive environmental impact assessments and evidence that no less environmentally damaging alternatives exist.
They also called on Parliament to strengthen legal protections for forests and protected areas and urged development partners to closely monitor Kenya's commitments on climate change and biodiversity conservation.
"Kenya cannot plant 15 billion trees while cutting down the forests that already sustain us," the coalition said. "Climate leadership is measured not by speeches or targets, but by the courage to protect what already exists."
The government has committed to increasing Kenya's tree cover through a national campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 as part of its climate mitigation and landscape restoration agenda. Environmental groups, however, argue that achieving that target will require not only planting new trees but also protecting the country's remaining mature forests, which they say provide irreplaceable ecological functions that cannot be recreated within a single generation.