The way forward for environmental management and coordination in Marsabit: A Governance Assessment Framework for Landscape-Level Ecosystem-Based Management (original) (raw)
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2014
On the whole, institutional systems within counties in Kenya have not been designed with ecosystem management in mind, whether in Marsabit or elsewhere. Ecosystems, moreover, cut across Ward, Location, and County boundaries. Devolution as envisaged under the current constitution, with the national and county governments revising old institutional structures, provides a window of opportunity to improve natural resource governance. This brief aims to inform ongoing processes of legal and institutional reform and policy on natural resource governance in the drylands.
INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IN KENYA: THE STATE OF THE POLICY ENVIRONMENT
Kenya, like many nations, faces inter-related challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and resource competition. Effectively tackling these issues necessitates the development of coordinated, landscape-scale partnerships through a process referred to as integrated landscape management (ILM). Kenya has become a leader in ILM, but responding to new environmental and socio-economic pressures demands further facilitation of ILM through targeted structuring of national laws, policies, regulations and strategies. This paper assesses the policy and legal context for ILM in Kenya in four key areas: 1) stakeholder cooperation and coordination, 2) legal and regulatory framework, 3) knowledge and capacity, and 4) investments and incentives for ILM. Our assessment indicates a strong foundation for the development of ILM in Kenya, especially through support for institutional collaboration, harmonization of policies across sectors, participatory natural resource management, and incentivizing ILM practices. Nonetheless, obstacles to ILM persist, such as budgeting processes that hinder integrated landscape financing. To improve the enabling environment for ILM, we suggest the following recommendations: 1) improve inter-ministerial and interagency cooperation, 2) stimulate ILM-friendly financing structures at the national level, 3) support county-level institutional capacities for ILM, and 4) facilitate financial coordination at the county level.
Kenya's Legal and Institutional Structure for Environmental Protection and Resource Management, 1992
Environmental issues transcend the boundaries of Kenya's current legal and institutional structure. In the interest of its future prosperity Kenya requires a system of resource management that aims at the long-term sustainable use of natural resources. An appropriate system implemented under the auspices of a national environmental policy and land use strategy is necessary to ensure sound environmental conservation and management. This paper explores Kenya's legal and institutional system as it relates to the environment. The paper focuses on critical issues which must be considered in evaluating the system and then discusses the evolution of the Kenyan system in response to changing environmental concerns. The paper also considers the current opportunities for creating an effective system for environmental management, key reform efforts are briefly discussed and contraints to change are analyzed. Finally, steps are recommended for improving and reforming the current system in order to promote the sound management of natural resources in Kenya.
Achieving multi-level, integrated governance of coastal ecosystems in Kenya
Integration and coordination of objectives, policies and management approaches is widely seen as essential for the effective governance of coastal zones. Yet, developing an integrated and coordinated approach within government and with other actors, working at multiple levels and locations, is extremely challenging. The breadth of sectors, policies, actors, management approaches and levels may not always be appreciated or taken into account. Viewing governance in terms of 'multi-level governance' would encourage greater attention to the many administrative levels, government sectors and non-governmental actors involved, and interactions between them. Understanding of multi-level governance requires analysis in three areas: o The multiplicities of levels, actors, policies and rules. o The existence of, and opportunities and challenges for, vertical and horizontal interaction. o Assessment of governance through the application of governance principles. Greater coordination of governance could be sought through Integrated Coastal Zone Management, County Environment Committees and the National Mangrove Management Action Plan.