Conservation, development balance vital

On a really bad day in Kenya, you might be attacked by a lion. Seriously. A plausible explanation for the unnervingly frequent instances of lions escaping from the Nairobi National Park is the disturbance of wildlife habitats by the standard gauge railway.

Recent incidents of human-wildlife conflict are proof of what else, besides the obvious loss of biodiversity, can happen when projects interact significantly with natural resources. So, how can Kenya balance infrastructure development with conservation?

This is a familiar challenge for developing economies as governments strive to deliver critical infrastructure for expanding populations.

The good news is that pursuing economic growth need not cause losses to ecosystems and that success is achieved by valuing natural capital, rigorous project planning, and effective public participation with the support of solid institutions and regulatory frameworks.

When including conservation in infrastructure development, it is important to value the services both the projects and nature provide to the economy. Infrastructure investments catalyse economic growth by facilitating movement of goods and people, bolstering trade and competitiveness, and expanding productivity. They are easy to quantify.

On the contrary, valuing ecosystem services is complex because markets are used to consuming nature for “free”. Valuing natural capital enables policy makers to consider more balanced, conservation-friendly approaches to pursuing growth.

The business case for Nairobi National Park is a no-brainer: it is a major revenue earner upon which many livelihoods and the economy depend.

Secondly, valuing natural capital ensures that citizens engage with natural resources responsibly, which benefits economies and reduces catastrophic conflicts.

Whether in regard to deforestation, poaching, herding in parks, or a railway in the park, citizens must never feel that conservation stands in the way of their livelihoods. The government can ensure this through conservation awareness and delivering policy promises.

MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS

Balanced infrastructure projects move beyond financial feasibility to integrate conservation safeguards in their design and operation in order to avoid, minimise, or mitigate negative impacts.

This depends on the rigour with which State ministries and agencies conduct environmental impact assessments and audits and the commitment with which institutions enforce compliance.

The shortcomings of the National Environmental Management Authority in enforcing compliance by contractors, ministries, State agencies, and businesses cause harm to communities and ecosystems.

Public participation enables policy makers to leverage the unique knowledge and perspectives of various stakeholders. However, this is only effective when complex project information is distilled into concepts that citizens can relate to. Poor public participation is invariably inefficient and costly.

The citizens pushing for the relocation of the railway line seem unaware that an alternative route would cost them as taxpayers an extra Sh70 billion and disrupt 46.7 hectares of animal habitats. The initial route would disrupt 15 hectares of the park.

If governments want to deliver their mandates more efficiently, they need to open up to public scrutiny as this would grant them social licence to operate and ensure that projects proceed without opposition.

Balancing development with conservation rests firmly on good governance and citizen participation. For the citizens, understanding the projects, engaging in them at the right time, and showing up when your country needs you is the most effective way of keeping the government on the straight and narrow. These are lofty ideals, but they can be achieved.

Ms Kaaria is a sustainability strategist and the CEO of Creide. [email protected].