Conservation - Big3Africa.org

Nairobi’s Vanishing Forests Spark Battle for the City’s Last Wild Spaces

Peter Ngare March 30, 2026

A growing conservation battle is unfolding in Nairobi National Park as plans linked to the Bomas International Convention Centre spark outrage over the clearing of nearly 100 acres of sensitive upland forest. Conservationists warn the move could fragment critical wildlife habitats and set a dangerous precedent for development within protected areas.

Conservation

How Cape Town’s Air Pollution Fight Offer Lessons for African Cities

Pauline Ongaji March 24, 2026

Cape Town’s evolving fight against air pollution is offering critical lessons for rapidly urbanising African cities. While stronger laws, real-time monitoring, and local enforcement have improved air quality management, challenges like vehicle emissions, high monitoring costs, and reliance on biomass fuels persist.

Conservation

Ecosystem Loss Costing Kenya Billions, World Bank Warns

Peter Ngare March 19, 2026

Kenya is losing billions annually due to degraded forests, wetlands and rangelands, according to a new World Bank report. The study warns that ecosystem loss is weakening climate resilience, cutting productivity and deepening economic vulnerability across key sectors.

Conservation

Kenya Tightens Waste Rules for Importers

Mwangi Ndirangu March 17, 2026

Kenya has begun enforcing tougher waste compliance rules, requiring importers to secure an EPR import certificate before goods enter the country. The move is meant to shift waste responsibility to producers and curb growing pollution.

Conservation

Kenya Busts Ant-Smuggling Ring, Exposing New Threat to Biodiversity

Pauline Ongaji March 13, 2026

Kenyan authorities arrested a suspect at Nairobi's JKIA after discovering more than 2,000 live queen ants hidden in luggage. The insects, identified as the giant African harvester ant (Messor cephalotes), are vital to ecosystem health through seed dispersal and soil aeration. Experts warn that the case highlights a growing global trade in exotic insects that could pose new threats to biodiversity.

Conservation

Red Flags Over Karura Forest Tree Clearing and Government Explanations

Peter Ngare March 10, 2026

Conflicting explanations from Environment CS Deborah Barasa and the Kenya Forest Service over tree clearing in Karura Forest have triggered alarm among conservationists and community groups about transparency and adherence to the forest’s management plan.

Conservation

Upper Tana Water Fund Marks 10 Years

Neville Ng'ambwa March 9, 2026

Kenya marks a decade of the Upper Tana Water Fund, highlighting how nature-based solutions and public-private partnerships are protecting water sources and strengthening climate resilience.

Conservation

Mau Forest Complex Restoration Gathers Pace as 1.2 Million Seedlings Planted

Dan Kaburu February 26, 2026

Kenya has planted over 1.2 million seedlings across 1,200 hectares of the Mau Forest Complex under a new restoration drive targeting 3,300 hectares during the March–May long rains. The programme integrates conservation with climate-smart livelihoods to secure water sources that sustain major regional rivers and lakes.

Conservation

How Planting Right Trees in Right Places can Help Kenya Tackle Rising Heat

Peter Ngare February 20, 2026

As Nairobi swelters under intensifying January–February heat, scientists say the right trees planted in the right places could cool city streets by up to 12°C. But urban forestry is not just about numbers — it is about smart planning, indigenous species, and ensuring low-income neighborhoods benefit equally.

Conservation

Kenya Launches Plastic Circular Investment Drive

Peter Ngare February 19, 2026

Kenya has launched a Plastic Circular Investment Initiative under the Kenya National Plastics Action Partnership to tackle rising urban plastic waste and unlock green financing. The platform brings together government, industry and recyclers to redesign plastic production, strengthen recycling systems and integrate informal waste pickers into formal value chains, supporting climate action and sustainable growth.