Nairobi’s Green Oasis Saved: Karura Forest Management Deal Restored

After public outcry, Kenya has reversed a controversial decision that would have ended a successful 15-year partnership protecting one of Nairobi’s most cherished natural spaces. The Kenya Forest Service announced it will continue jointly managing the 1,000-hectare Karura Forest with local advocacy group Friends of Karura Forest, preserving an arrangement that has transformed this urban green space into a thriving ecosystem.

Located just north of Kenya’s bustling capital, Karura Forest serves as a vital “green lung” for the city of 4.4 million people. Each month, approximately 75,000 visitors pay a small entrance fee of 10-100 shillings (up to 75 cents) to escape Nairobi’s congested streets and find peace beneath the forest’s restored canopy. The partnership has successfully reestablished native species including African onionwood with its glossy dark leaves, forest ironplum that feeds local wildlife, and wild jasmine beloved by pollinators.

The restoration efforts have created more than just a recreational space—they’ve built a wildlife sanctuary in the heart of East Africa’s largest city. Harvey’s duiker, suni, and bushbuck antelope now roam among walking trails, while jackals and bush pigs have returned to their urban habitat. When the government announced plans to end the collaborative management model in August, the public response was swift and decisive, forcing officials to reconsider.

This victory demonstrates how community-led conservation can succeed when citizens and government work together, offering hope for urban forests worldwide facing similar pressures from development and bureaucratic changes.