Shock proposal for highway across Tanzania's Serengeti plains
16th December 2010
Plans for road put annual wildebeest migration, Serengeti national park and neighbouring Masai Mara in jeopardy, reports Will Gray
A controversial proposal to construct a tarred road across Tanzania's Serengeti plains could spell disaster for the annual wildebeest migration and drive tourism away from both the national park and neighbouring Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.
The precise details of the proposal are hazy, but lodge owners in the region are clear about one thing: a highway through such an ecologically important, wildlife-rich area would have a huge impact on wildlife, ecotourism, community development and job creation.
"The entire ecosystem of the Serengeti and Masai Mara is at risk," says Ole Bernt Frøshaug, Communication Director and co-Founder of Basecamp Explorer, one of dozens of companies operating safari camps in the region.
"The construction could have huge economic consequences for both Kenya and Tanzania. A highway through the Serengeti would be like making a disastrous hole in an oil well. We don't believe Tanzania is in a position to waste future employment, income and foreign exchange for short-term gain."
How you can help
Support the campaign against the proposed highway by e-mailing or writing to the Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism.
Whilst focused on the impact on birds, the RSPB has excellent information detailing how concerned travellers can get involved.
Road rage
According to Paul Goldstein, director of Exodus Travel and owner of Kicheche Mara Camps: "It is wrong for camp owners and other tourism partners to selfishly and piously deride such a development. Tanzania is one of the world's poorest countries and it makes sound sense to link the Great Lakes region with the coast. However, running [a highway] through the Serengeti is madness."
Conservationists are concerned that the road would not only block the wildebeest migration, but could also provide fast-track access for poachers and lead to high levels of roadkill - not to mention the potential damage from pollution, noise and habitat destruction during the highway's construction.
Computer simulations estimate that the highway scheme could cause wildebeest numbers to plummet from the current 1.3 million to less than 300,000. This in turn would lead to more grass fires and a reduction in the quality of grazing for other species.
“The conservation ranches in the Northern Mara have taken great strides in improving the environment for wildlife, including a dramatic reduction in the numbers of cows,” claims Eunice Kaigai of Ngerende Island Lodge in Olchoro-Oirogua Conservation Ranch. “This has seen remarkable improvements in wildebeest numbers which in turn has attracted predators. It would be tragic to see all of these improvements come to nothing due to policies which have not been considered thoroughly as to their effect on one of the world’s last great wildlife sanctuaries.”
Gary Lotter, Chief Operating Officer of &Beyond (which has several lodges in northern Tanzania, including Klein's and Grumeti Camps in the Serengeti) told Wanderlust:
"Whilst the precise details of the proposed construction are difficult to establish, the concept has met with considerable opposition amongst activists and conservation groups, as well as raising concerns in global bodies such as the UN World Heritage Committee. It is our understanding that the Tanzanian government has committed a task force to study the matter and present its report to the president as soon as possible.
We also understand that, to date, only a preliminary feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have been undertaken, and that a 15 member multi-disciplinary committee (including representatives of the Tanzania National Parks) has been created to advise the government on the project and that a final EIA report will be provided to the World Heritage Centre." Frøshaug of Basecamp Explorer is keen to emphasise the value of an intact ecosystem and it's unique wildlife for community development and job creation through well-managed, responsible tourism.
"Hundreds of thousands of jobs are now at risk both in Kenya and Tanzania if the migration is effected," he says.
"We know that President Kikwete has a genuine interest in conservation and encourage him to choose an alternative route for the highway."
“There is an alternative route south,” says Goldstein, “but it will cost more. Providing the money is raised, I feel sure they will bow to pressure. Critically the pressure must come from the Kenyans as they benefit from the yearly migration just as much as the Serengeti does.
The prospect of the Mara's plains being empty of herds due to a fenced highway is an unspeakable one, but as ever it will come down to money. I pray they see sense and go south.”
Lotter of &beyond urges Tanzania's government not to lose sight of it's wildlife and tourism policy objectives.
"Part of their main strategy," says Lotter, "is to 'prevent illegal use of wildlife throughout the country; to create an enabling environment which ensures sustainable wildlife schemes directly benefiting local communities, through retaining sufficient revenues from wildlife utilisation in protected areas for management and development purposes, and to cooperate with neighbouring countries in the conservation of transboundary ecosystems."
More like this...
Will Gray blogs for Wanderlust as Family Man... More