Forest Parks: upcoming investment opportunities in public forests
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) manages over 1.9 million hectares of public forests in diverse ecosystems across the country. One of the functions of KFS is to collaborate with other parties in development of tourism and recreational facilities in public forests (the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016).
In the 2016-2021 period, KFS shall focus its efforts on developing recreational infrastructure in selected forests designated as Forest Parks. Forest Parks are recreational areas located in forests near urban centers with the objective of providing forest-based recreation for persons living in or visiting cities and towns. The primary target clientele is recreationists (day visitors), not overnight tourists.
Urban areas in Kenya continue to expand rapidly due to various factors including economic growth, infrastructural development and devolution. Forest Parks shall provide critical green spaces to serve the recreational needs of the people living in these towns.
To develop Forest Parks, KFS shall collaborate with county governments, private sector, local communities, NGOs and other parties to construct unique low-impact recreational facilities including walking/jogging trails, picnic areas, amusement areas, arboreta, restaurants, gift shops, visitor education centres, community centres, zip lines, health & fitness facilities and special event areas.
Some of the forests with opportunities for development of Forest Parks include:
1.Arabuko Sokoke (Coast Conservancy)
2.Buda Forest Station, Kwale County
3.Chuka Forest Station
4.Eburru Forest Station (Mau Conservancy)
5.Eldoret Municipality Forest (North Rift Conservancy)
6.Kaberua Forest, Mt. Elgon
7.Kabiruini/Nyeri Forest, Nyeri County
8.Kakamega Forest (Western Conservancy)
9.Karura Forest (Nairobi Conservancy)
10.Kessup Forest (North Rift Conservancy)
11.Kitale Municipality Forest (North Rift Conservancy)
12.Kwale Forest Station, Kwale County
13.Leroghi Forest (Tamiyoi Beat), Samburu County
14.Malava Forest, Kakamega County
15.Menengai Forest Station (Mau Conservancy)
16.Meru Forest/Lower Imenti, Meru County
17.Munguni Hill (Eastern Conservancy)
18.Nairobi Arboretum (Nairobi Conservancy)
19.Ndaragwa Forest Station (Central Highlands Conservancy)
20.Nderi Recreational Park in Muguga Forest, Kiambu County
21.Ngong Hills Forest (Nairobi Conservancy)
22.Ngong Road Forests (Nairobi Conservancy)
23.Njukiini Forest, Kirinyaga County
24.Njukiiri Forest, Embu County
25.Oloolua Forest Park, Kajiado County
26.Shimba Hills (Coast Conservancy)
27.Uaso Narok Forest, Laikipia County
28.Uplands Recreational Park, Kiambu County
29.Wire Forest in Homa Bay County
To be added to the ecotourism database for notification when these and other ecotourism investment opportunities become available, send an email requesting the same to info@kenyaforestservice.org
Download Application form for ecotourism and recreation sites in public forests.
Kenya Forest Service
Karura, off Kiambu Road, Nairobi.
P.O. Box 30513-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 2020285/ 2014663
