Landscape Planning in the Ngong Hills of Kenya, an integrated approach

Abstract

The Ngong Hills represent a natural resource o fsignificant importance to Kenya. The hills contain valuable agricultural, vegetational, hydrological, visual, recreational and wildlife resources. These support a number of land uses and a sizeable and quickly growing population. Settlement expansion and often inappropriate use of the resource base has threatened sustainability of production. The study undertakes to determine the degree to which enlisting land uses are destabilizing the environment and what changes in either land use or inputs are required. In addition, existing habitats and landscape elements are evaluated to ascertain their role in safeguarding desired functions with particular emphasis on the factors affecting primary production. The study argues that an integrated approach to landscape planning; that is, holistically examining and responding to the biological, physical, cultural, and economic aspects of the environment, is necessary for truly sustainable rural development. In this way both conservation and development objectives may be achieved. A methodology is put forward that spatially relates information from various disciplines in order to design a course of action that is directed towards the optimum use of the land, consistent with the highest state of landscape integrity and economic and social feasibility. Agroforestry figures prominently in the plan.