Kenya has taken a fresh step towards protecting its natural resources after the National Land Commission (NLC) unveiled detailed mapping reports for Isiolo, Samburu and Laikipia counties, giving planners and conservation agencies a new tool to guide land use, safeguard ecosystems and support sustainable development in the country's drylands.
The Commission, working with Wyss Academy, launched the Dryland Natural Assets Inventory and Participatory Mapping Reports together with the Guidelines for Participatory Natural Assets Mapping, saying the documents will help improve the management of natural resources across Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands.
The reports provide an extensive record of natural assets found in the three counties and are expected to serve as a key reference in land-use planning, conservation, climate adaptation and future development decisions.
Speaking during the launch, National Land Commission Chairperson Dr. Abdillahi Sagaaf Alawy said the initiative marks an important step in strengthening land governance by ensuring decisions are guided by reliable information.
"The event marks marked a milestone in Kenya's journey towards safeguarding our natural heritage through informed land governance, evidence-based planning and responsible stewardship of the shared resources," said Sagaaf affirming that sustainable development begins with a clear understanding of the country's natural assets and their value.
He said the Commission remains convinced that development can only be sustained if the country's natural resources are identified, understood and protected for both present and future generations.
Sagaaf noted that the newly launched reports build on the Kenya Natural Atlas, which was developed by the Commission to support planning and better management of land resources through credible data.
Land Administration and Management Committee Chairperson Commissioner Vincent Kigen said Kenya has made notable progress in documenting land ownership over the years but has not done enough to record the natural assets found across its landscapes, especially in arid and semi-arid areas.
He said the country has advanced in land surveys, adjudication, title registration and spatial planning, yet little attention has been given to documenting the natural resources that support livelihoods and ecosystems.
National Land Commission Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache said the project fills a long-standing gap by documenting natural assets that had previously not been recorded, while also providing a framework for their long-term protection.
She said the exercise brought together science, technology, government agencies, non-state actors and local communities to ensure the mapping process was accurate and inclusive.
"These reports are therefore not simply publications. They are the product of an extensive, inclusive and evidence-driven process that brought together local communities, county governments, national government agencies, researchers, conservation organizations and development partners to identify, verify and map some of Kenya's most critical dryland natural assets."
Tache said the information captured in the reports will provide dependable data to guide land governance, conservation and planning in the years ahead.
"The Commission firmly believes that effective land governance must be informed by reliable data."
Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ngeno, who was the chief guest, said Kenya's natural resources remain one of the country's greatest assets and, if properly managed, can continue supporting economic growth and environmental protection.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Environment Secretary Sally Kimosop, the Principal Secretary said the country's natural resources are central to tourism, biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods, making their protection a shared responsibility.
He urged government institutions, development partners, conservation organisations and local communities to work together in implementing the recommendations contained in the reports.
The Principal Secretary also commended the National Land Commission and Wyss Academy for producing what he described as a detailed and comprehensive report covering Isiolo, Samburu and Laikipia counties.
The launch was attended by National Land Commission commissioners, senior government officials, county representatives, development partners, conservation organisations and technical experts involved in natural resource governance.