Environmental
Sustainability
- Chale Island and Shimba Hills
This is a small private
island with a "romantic" theme.
The island is located about 600 meters
from the mainland and 10 km south of Diani
on the Kenya coast. It offers a nature
reserve with a white sandy beach and blue
waters, tropical rainforest, a wealth
of animals, bird life and sulphur springs.Chale
Island is an ideal Indian Ocean Island
beach destination for romantic getaways.
Chale has a "lovers corner"
on the northern side, which is famous
spot for exchanging wedding vows. .
UNDP has been working together
with Kenya Forest Working Group to attain
the overall objective of supporting the
sustainable management of Kenya's forests
(mainly mangrove and indigenous forests)
through partnerships. Under this goal,
KFWG monitors the state of Kenya's forests
and uses the information generated to
advocate for better forest management
practices. In 2006, KFWG was informed
of a proposal to clear the forested 37
acres of Kaya Chale by Kalsi Limited so
as to build cottages in the Kaya. The
remaining 15 acres have been developed
into a hotel, the Paradise Resort. The
37 acres are gazetted (in 1992) as national
monuments by the National Museums of Kenya
and at the same time gazetted as a marine
reserve by KWS.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The findings from a recent mission by UNDP-Kenya
project officer revealed that although an Environmental
Impact Assessment EIA ,had been used to approve
the Kalsi Limited intentions for the site development,
Kenya Forest Working Group KFWG, advocacy played
a critical role in ensuring that the proposal
was not implemented. Local KFWG partners such
as WWF could not play the role that was played
by KFWG because by doing so, it could have jeopardized
their relations with their local partners and
stakeholders. They therefore provided KFWG with
the relevant information and remained to closely
monitor the issues on the ground.
Print media articles prepared by media journalists,
who were supported by KFGW, to document the issues
assisted in the advocacy requirements and subsequently
the lobbying that was done with the authorities.
Other institutions who supported the campaign
were; Kenya Forest Service and Kenya Wildlife
Service (KWS). The mission was informed that KWS
had acquired a title for the 37 acres of land.
The team was made to understand that the Shimba
Hills forest development issue was being pushed
by powerful cabinet ministers from Kwale. The
works involved a clearance of about 2 hectares
of closed canopy forest for construction of the
water tanks, an idea that needed KFS and KWS approval.
KFWG again played a similar role of advocacy and
intervened on the issue and despite threats over
telephone by the politicians and ministers; the
forest was untouched and saved. A 'give and take'
scenario whereby the KWS purchased an alternative
land outside the reserve for construction of the
required tanks reduced the pressures. The site
title is held on trust by KWS on behalf of the
communities.
On day two of the mission, the key participants
convened and critically reviewed the draft MTR
report. A number of additions, corrections, fact
proofing and inclusion of omitted information's
were slotted into the report. More importantly
was the need to capture recommendations of past
studies in text boxes to add authenticity and
clarity of information presented. A draft concept
paper on post election violence impacts on forest
resources was also discussed and reviewed during
the mission by UNDP-Kenya's programme officer
Dr. Nyandiga..
Ministry of Energy-Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya
Forest Working Group
Duration
2008-2013
Focus Area
To work with selected institutions in the field on the
advocacy roles played by KFWG to save the threatened forests
of Kaya Chale and Shimba Hills Forest Reserve
