Tourism Employs Strength Of Social Media
Anti Serengeti highway coalition takes to the net
(eTN) As recently reported here on eTurboNews, the Tanzanian government appears set to build a highway through the Serengeti to Lake Victoria, claiming this to be the most direct and, therefore, most affordable route. While no one argues that the population along the lake – and outside the national park – is in need of a road connecting them to the rest of the country, opponents of the planned highway are pointing out that an alternate route is possible, albeit longer and, therefore, more costly. The alternate route would, however, preserve the UNESCO World Heritage status of the Serengeti, which – should the road construction go ahead – would almost inevitably be withdrawn.
Tourism circles in the region are slowly catching on to the plans and are starting a concerted campaign of action, to prevent the development. This, according to two senior sources in Dar es Salaam and Arusha and another source in Nairobi, will include providing detailed information on the likely impact of the highway on the population of elephant, wildebeest, and zebras, which migrate regularly through the area and also resident populations of predators.
The potential loss of revenue for the country through lesser tourist numbers and the resulting negative global publicity could be massive, and funding from donors, development partners, and through individual donations could dry up. There are also growing concerns on the possible impact of the highway on the annual migration between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara across the border in Kenya, likely also resulting in disastrous fallout for tourism activities there.
Visit the following site on Facebook to get more information and join the growing ranks of opponents of this particular highway routing. www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-THE-SERENGETI-HIGHWAY/125601617471610?v=wall
In a related development, information was obtained that a study on the impact of livestock on the Grumeti and Ikorongo game reserves, adjoining the Serengeti National Park will soon be completed. This study will assist in addressing the conflict between human settlements and activities on the prized wildlife, which draws in so many visitors and earns the country so much foreign exchange.
The prolonged drought in recent years, which only broke at the very end of 2009, has undoubtedly contributed towards a more lenient approach towards cattle and goat herds being driven into the protected areas, as they were searching for pasture and water. With the drought now over, it is time to restore the balance and ensure that livestock are kept away from parks and reserves. In particular, the Grumeti and Ikorongo areas now also have upmarket tourist accommodation, and the owners will also be seeking governmental assurances and protection to ensure the cattle herds are kept away.
It is understood that similar studies are underway also in other parts of Tanzania, aimed to alleviate similar conflicts between traditional herdsmen and wildlife managers and tourism operators, a sign that the potential severity of this problem has reached senior governmental levels and that some action is being taken to protect and preserve the country’s wildlife and biodiversity.
Comments
This highway must be stopped at all costs if Tanzania wants to keep it's UNESCO world heritage status.
How can Bwana post such a rediculous article? Does he think that a highway running through the Serengeti to Lake Victoria is not going to affect the animal migrations, or the number of tourists to the area?
He needs his head read!
We need to conserve what we have left of the natural world. There's 1% of all the animals left in Africa since the arrival of gunpowder. When are we going to wake up and smell the (bush)roses? Before it's too late!
Chris, thanks for the info. I'd already read that article (and had a good laugh when seeing that picture of the river crossing) and some of the quoted literature.
Bwana
Four your edification I quote an extract from the NYT article by Olivia Judson dated 15JUN10.
QUOTE For a general overview of different ways that roads impact wildlife, including a discussion of the spread of invasive plants and pathogens, and the increased risk of poaching, see Trombulak S. C. and Frissell, C. A. 2000. “Review of ecological effects of roads on terrestrial and aquatic communities.” Conservation Biology 14: 18-30. For the overwhelmingly negative effect that roads have on wildlife, see Fahrig, L. and Rytwinski, T. 2009. “Effects of roads on animal abundance: an empirical review and synthesis.” Ecology and Society 14 (1): article 21. For the general problem of animal diseases being spread by animal transportation, see Fèvre, E. M. et al. 2006. “Animal movements and the spread of infectious diseases.” Trends in Microbiology 14: 125-131. For the general problem of animals and road deaths, see Groot Bruinderink, G. W. T. A. and Hazebroek, E. 1996. “Ungulate traffic collisions in Europe.” Conservation Biology 10: 1059-1067. UNQUOTE
I trust you will find yourself better informed after perusal of the material.
In response to the post by "Bwana", please refer to the article in the New York Times by Olivia Judson dated 15JUN10. You will find answers to your questions within that article & elsewhere if you do an effective Google search & take the trouble to find & read the material in the referred books, names of which are given below.
For example, I quote from Ms Judson's article QUOTE For a general overview of different ways that roads impact wildlife, including a discussion of the spread of invasive plants and pathogens, and the increased risk of poaching, see Trombulak S. C. and Frissell, C. A. 2000. “Review of ecological effects of roads on terrestrial and aquatic communities.” Conservation Biology 14: 18-30. For the overwhelmingly negative effect that roads have on wildlife, see Fahrig, L. and Rytwinski, T. 2009. “Effects of roads on animal abundance: an empirical review and synthesis.” Ecology and Society 14 (1): article 21. For the general problem of animal diseases being spread by animal transportation, see Fèvre, E. M. et al. 2006. “Animal movements and the spread of infectious diseases.” Trends in Microbiology 14: 125-131. For the general problem of animals and road deaths, see Groot Bruinderink, G. W. T. A. and Hazebroek, E. 1996. “Ungulate traffic collisions in Europe.” Conservation Biology 10: 1059-1067 UNQUOTE
Why should this 10 metres wide track have any impact on the migration? Or an impact on the population of elephant, wildebeest or zebras? Are there any scientific studies which confirm such statements? Is this new road worse than Naabi Hills road with its hundreds (thousands?) of daily mini busses and support trucks? I doubt it. I never heard that Naabi Hills road had any influence on the migration. And funny that we never heard about a petition against those swarms of mini busses.
There is a petition by the international travel industry that is now online. Travel companies and tour associations around the world are asked to sign the petition.
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/travel_industry_against_the_serenge...
More information on the highway can be found here:
http://www.savetheserengeti.org/issues/stop-the-serengeti-highway/
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