Conservation problems in Africa

[timmy]

Some more information to consider:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09 ... tml?hpt=C1

Serengeti on road to ruin, scientists warn

London, England (CNN) -- Plans to build a highway through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park will destroy one of the world's last great wildlife sanctuaries, a group of conservation experts has warned.
Writing in the journal Nature, 27 scientists have called for a re-think on a proposed 50 kilometer (31 mile) road which they say will cause "environmental disaster."
Under plans approved by the Tanzanian government earlier this year, the trade route would bisect a northern part of the park, forming part of the 170 kilometer-long Arusha-Musoma highway slated to run from the Tanzanian coast to Lake Victoria, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Construction is expected to begin in 2012.
In "Road will ruin Serengeti," lead author Andrew Dobson, professor at the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University, says laying a track across the park would disrupt the annual migratory patterns of tens of thousands of zebras and gazelles, and 1.3 million wildebeest.
Using computer simulations the scientists estimate that if the wildebeests' access to the Mara river in Kenya is blocked their numbers "will fall to less than 300,000."
"This would lead to more grass fires, which would further diminish the quality of grazing by volatizing minerals, and the ecosystem could flip into being a source of atmospheric CO2," the scientists said.
In addition to simulations, the scientists also cite the experience of other park ecosystems where large mammal migration has been hindered by roads and fences.
In Canada's Banff National Park in Canada, "habitat fragmentation" has led to the "collapse of at least six of the last 24 terrestrial migratory species left in the world."
In Africa, the ecosystems of Etosha National Park in Namibia and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Botswana have collapsed to "a less diverse and less productive state," the scientists said.
Scientists say a different route running south of the Serengeti should be considered to preserve the 1.2 million hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This alternative route could utilize an existing network of gravel roads and would only be 50 kilometers longer than the proposed northern route, the scientists said.
While they acknowledge that Tanzania needs improved infrastructure to facilitate economic development, they argue that the road would damage wildlife tourism -- "a cornerstone" of the country's economy which was worth an estimated $824 million in 2005.
The Nature article adds weight to the growing pressure on the Tanzanian government to reconsider its position regarding the road.
Last month, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London voiced their concerns and campaigns against the highway are gaining support on social networking sites Facebook ("Stop the Serengeti Highway") and Twitter ("SaveSerengeti").
Earlier this year, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete tried to placate opponents of the project by announcing that the section of new road running through the Serengeti would not be tarmacked.
"I am also a conservation ally and I assure you I'm not going to allow something that will ruin the ecosystem to be built," President Kikwete said in an address to the nation in July.

[Sakobav]

"Earlier this year, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete tried to placate opponents of the project by announcing that the section of new road running through the Serengeti would not be tarmacked.
"I am also a conservation ally and I assure you I'm not going to allow something that will ruin the ecosystem to be built," President Kikwete said in an address to the nation in July." This is nonsensical cant have it both ways -- challenge to balance two needs..

Best

[prashantsingh]

I have always felt that Africa is slowly going the same way as India has gone as far as conservation goes. Both the Indian subcontinent and Africa have such a fantastic collection of flora and fauna. Unsurpassed by any other place on earth.
It is said that way back (till 1813 to be precise) , the average Indian was richer than the average Britisher.
Foreign rule over the subcontinent and Africa resulted in much exploitation over centuries. Most of the African nations have a large number of people who are really poor and sick.HIV is a big problem. The political situation in many countries there is also not stable. Unless something is done for these people , wildlife conservation will always take a back seat.

[rsuresh]

I have always felt that Africa is slowly going the same way as India has gone as far as conservation goes. Both the Indian subcontinent and Africa have such a fantastic collection of flora and fauna. Unsurpassed by any other place on earth.

Well said Prashant !

[shooter]

first the amazon, now the serengeti.

Bravo. well done.

Why do the nations who already have highways /developed oppose modernisation of poor nations.

I support the highway.
who needs wildebeest anyways. They were a pest and the early settlers used HMG's to get rid of herds numbering tens of millions. Thats how the farming land was reclaimed in Africa. Now these same people dont want the native farmers to have farms. They dont want the natives to be empowered.

I want to ask this Mr. Andrew Dobson the armchair ecologist if he uses a mobile, has a good house, drives on a motorway and uses other miracles of developed world. Why doesnt he let the poor countries be civilised too. We are all saying things here but we ourselves want good roads to drive our good cars.
How many of us here own cars too fast for indian roads? how many of own more than one car? how many of us praise bigger highways? How many of us cycle to work? how many of us invest in flats/ property?

All of us are bloody hypocrites. None of us care deep inside. We either lie or delude ourseles into believing we do.

I think they need to buils malls in ranthambore , kanha, kaziranga and corbett. Ill buy the first shop and rent it out to allan solly or arrow... or better still, to pizza hut.

[m24]

All of us are bloody hypocrites. None of us care deep inside. We either lie or delude ourseles into believing we do.

I think they need to buils malls in ranthambore , kanha, kaziranga and corbett. Ill buy the first shop and rent it out to allan solly or arrow... or better still, to pizza hut.

Shaanth, Gadadhari Bhim, Shaanth.

Regards