It will allow the Maasai to graze their cattle in the area and gives control of Amboseli's substantial gate receipts — amounting to $3.5 million last year — to county officials.
The Kenya Wildlife Service says it was not consulted and groups such as the British-based Born Free Foundation and East African Wildlife Society are girding for a legal battle to halt it if the decision is not rescinded.
"I am fearful that Amboseli National Park, which is so important to Kenya and to Kenya's wildlife, is the victim of an arbitrary and illegal decision which puts the wildlife of this world famous area and right across the country at risk," said Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation.
The East African Wildlife Society expressed grave concern about a possible "domino effect" on other national parks in Kenya that the government's "hasty, clandestine, ill-conceived and illegal action may trigger."
Others agreed.
"If we concede to the degazettement of Amboseli National Park, every other park and reserve risks being erased on a political whim at any moment," said Steve Itela of the Kenya-based organization Youth for Conservation. "This puts our entire wildlife and tourism in jeopardy."
"What has happened in Amboseli can happen elsewhere. The government has set a dangerous precedent," said Elizabeth Wamba of the East African branch of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Kenya Wildlife Service spokeswoman Connie Maina told AFP on Wednesday that the downgrading of Amboseli "was a very unfortunate decision. It may lead to the detriment of the reserve because the local council does not have the capacity to manage it."
Officials with the state-run Kenya Tourism Board are also alarmed, fearing that overgrazing and the potential for the council's mismanagement could lead to a dramatic decline in visitors to the park.
"I am offended," said one. "This is a serious blow to conservation and tourism. This is a form of political poaching. Its impact on the park will be far worse than poaching itself."
