| dc.description.abstract | Environment has a very broad meaning. It includes the physical factors of the surroundings
of human beings including land, water, atmosphere, sound, odour, taste, social factors of
aesthetics and the biological factors of animals and plants. It includes both the natural and the
built environment.
Kenya has a wide variety of ecosystems ranging from mountains, forests, arid and semi-arid
areas, freshwater, wetlands, coastal and marine, offering myriad opportunities for human,
social and economic development. These ecosystems are natural capital which provide
important regulatory services (such as forests and mountains serving to regulate water flow,
sustain biodiversity), provisional services (such as forests providing timber and fuelwood),
cultural services (such as aesthetic, recreational or spiritual values and uses), and supporting
services (such as soil formation, nutrient cycling and primary production)
The survival and socio-economic wellbeing of the Makueni County residents, is ultimately
joined with the environment. Most Makueni residents depend directly or indirectly on
environmental goods and services. For instance via revenue generation and wealth creation
in agriculture, livestock, water, energy, forestry, tourism, trade and industry.
This makes environment an essential feature of Makueni County’s development plans.
Environmental imperatives were initially captured through the periodic development
planning cycles. Whole sections or chapters of the successive County Annual Development
Plans have addressed environment. | en |
