The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has proposed mapping and zoning the Nairobi National Park in a bid to prevent the dissolution of the Park.
The institution proposed this after the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli said that the Park should be dissolved to pave the way for other infrastructural developments.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 24, ISK spotlighted that zoning of such establishments will be fundamental in promoting orderly development, without compromising vital environmental segments of the city.
Acknowledging the vital role the Park has played in projecting Kenya as a tourism-rich country on the global stage, the surveyors said that the government should also enforce sustainable land use principles in line with Sustainable Development Goal 15, which calls for the preservation and sustainable use of forests and biodiversity.
Furthermore, the surveyors emphasised the importance of government officials and leaders consulting environmental experts before making decisions that could impact the environment, ensuring they are fully aware of the possible consequences.
"There is a need to invest in Mapping of the country and uphold zoning regulations, spatial development plans, and environmental laws across the country. Adherence to approved use plans, such as county Spatial plans, metropolitan plans, and conservation zoning frameworks, is essential in safeguarding the integrity of our environment and ensuring orderly development," ISK said.
"Nairobi National Park is not an idle land; it is protected heritage and an irreplaceable natural resource. We urge all leaders, institutions, and citizens to engage in informed, lawful, and ecologically sound decision-making in all matters concerning land and development," it added.
Established in 1946, the Nairobi National Park has for decades stood out as one of the iconic establishments within the city, making it the only park in the entire world to have this characteristic, receiving thousands of tourists every year.
In his statement on Sunday, June 22, Atwoli claimed that it is high time for the country to sacrifice some establishments, such as parks and forests, to decongest the city and catalyse the country's economic growth.
According to the COTU boss, the government should transfer all the animals from the national park to other parks such as the Maasai Mara National Park, then erect additional infrastructures such as roads and industrial parks, among others, to support the growing number of people.
"We must expand Nairobi through that National park, and we should take those animals to the Maasai Mara and make sure that Nairobi reflects an international city. You can't say that because Nairobi is the only city that has a national park, it should remain there," Atwoli said.
According to the ISK, the statement by Atwoli projected him as a leader who has no regard for environmental governance, land use planning, and respect for natural resources.
"ISK notes with concern that these remarks are not isolated. There appears to be a systemic erosion of ecological safeguards, as evidenced by ongoing attempts to commercialise protected areas without due process," the institution said.
