(Dare we hope?)
Kenya: Game Sites to Set Up Plans On Construction
The Nation (Nairobi)
21 June 2007
Posted to the web 21 June 2007
Nation Reporter
The Government has suspended construction of buildings along all wildlife protected areas pending the development of a new general management plan.
This is in response to concerns over proliferation of unregulated structures in the country's national parks and game reserves and its impact on tourism.
Environment PS Prof James Ole Kiyapi said, yesterday that all wildlife sanctuaries will now be required to develop management plans to protect them against illegal constructions by investors.
"The plans should specifically target the protected areas including areas surrounding the conservancy that are over-developed," he said.
Warned investors
"Once developed, the management plans must be gazetted while utilising mechanisms under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) as directed by the ministry," he added.
The PS, at the same time warned investors against erecting structures within the protected sites telling them to instead, put them up in other under-developed areas of the country.
Speaking after hosting a meeting with stakeholders in the wildlife and tourism sectors, Prof Kiyapi said the plans, yet to be developed, should provide a foundation to protect park resources while providing for meaningful visitor experience.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is already drafting the national guidelines for the development of these plans and will share them with stakeholders planning to develop their own.
The PS also announced that all the projects under construction in Isiolo and Samburu parks will now be required to undergo new environmental audits. This will be done by a team led by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) which will provide mitigation measures to curb environment damage.
"Projects not yet constructed or those that have submitted their applications to NEMA will be suspended until the management plans are put in place," he directed.
