TANZANIA UNDER RENEWED FIRE OVER LAKE NATRON SODA ASH PLANT
(Posted 26th August 2014)
Recent comments attributed to a senior official of the National Development Corporation have almost immediately raised the spectrum of further decampaigning of Tanzania in international tourism markets, as one of the country’s key resources, the Lake Natron flats where the entire population of East Africa’s famous flamingos is nesting, is again under imminent threat.
‘The last EIA was clear’ contributed a regular Arusha based source before continuing ‘The Lake Natron eco system cannot sustain soda ash mining and processing without a significant impact on the breeding patterns and breeding grounds of the flamingos. What has changed since then? Were willing accomplices, aka consultants, chosen to tailor write a new study which will serve only the interests of NDC and investors? TATA pulled out a few years ago when it became clear that they would be marked as a global environmental pariah if they had gone ahead and built a plant. Right now the soda ash market is down globally and across the border in Kenya has Magadi Soda mothballed one of their plants. Whoever is chosen by NDC will be immediately put under global spotlight and pressure will grow on their shareholders to stop their management from committing environmental crimes of the highest order. We cannot risk the extinction of the flamingos and then be blamed as a country to be responsible for destroying their breeding grounds for profit. I think the twilight years of the Kikwete presidency will probably see some other hare brained schemes like this floated but we shall oppose them and expose them’.
Some 6 foreign firms have apparently shown interest in participating in the tendering and inspite of soothing noises from NDC honchos will no doubt the global decampaigning against them kickstart the moment the winning bidder has been announced. ‘TATA pulled out because they realized what immense damage to their reputation any involvement in the Lake Natron soda ash plant would have. Any globally active company, maybe apart from Chinese who don’t give a r**’* a*** about environmental issues in far away countries, will have to be worried about an unfolding campaign. This could reach the level of the campaign against Shell when they polluted the Gulf of Mexico because destroying the breeding grounds of the flamingos will be a global issue. NDC may well say the location is not in the direct breeding area but any level of increased activity, machinery noises, trucks going in and out, will be detrimental to the breeding and may drive the flamingos away for good. What then?’ added another Arusha based source, suggesting that the matter may have to go to court, and with the local judiciary’s reputation tainted may also end up in the East African Court of Justice similar to the Serengeti Highway case.
In a related development was an article published about the Natron breeding grounds of the flamingos by Ken Mwathe and Festo Semanini ahead of the World Migratory Birding Day 2014, which local celebrations and commemoration will notably be held on the 28th of August at Lake Natron, a sharp reminder to so called developers that they will be in for a long battle pitted against a global alliance of conservationists and environmentalists.
Enjoy Ken and Festo’s story and keep watching this space as it is here that the continued assault by the Tanzanian government on the environment will regularly be exposed and discussed, be it Lake Natron, The Corridor of Destruction, Uranium mining in the Selous or the Stiegler’s Gorge hydropower plant, among others.
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World Migratory Bird Day 2014: Lake Natron, Tanzania – a Global Tourism Spot
Lesser Flamingos with chicks at Lake Natron (Photo: Sean Avery)
The World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2014 in the United Republic of Tanzania will be celebrated on 28th August at Ngare Sero Village on the shores of Lake Natron. The event is collaboratively organized by BirdLife International, the Wildlife Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, together with district and local leaders. It is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (UNEP/AEWA), an international treaty administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Lake Natron is an important site, not only for tourism in the United Republic of Tanzania but for the greater East Africa region, and, indeed, for the world. It is a stopover for many migratory birds and is the only regular breeding location for the 1.5 million – 2.5 million Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) found in Eastern Africa. This population represents 75% of the global population of the species.
The event is being held against the backdrop of Destination Flyways, a new global initiative led by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Through Destination Flyways, some of the world’s estimated 50 billion migratory birds will soon benefit from sustainable tourism development. Lake Natron has been selected as one of eight pilot sites globally and is one of only three such sites in all Africa. Destination Flyways will work to safeguard the birds’ habitats, while creating livelihood opportunities for local communities along migratory routes.
A UNWTO mission visited Lake Natron in March 2014, and held consultations with local communities and other stakeholders regarding the initiative. Local stakeholders warmly received the initiative.
“The Ngare Sero event will bring together stakeholders from all walks of life. Political leaders, local communities, park authorities, the AEWA Focal Point from Kenya, school children, private sector and the press, will be represented”, said Festo Semanini, the Head of BirdLife Office in Tanzania. “There will be a procession to mark the event, songs, skits, a writing competition among the school children and speeches from distinguished guests.”
The organization of this event is a demonstration of the continued collaboration amongst all key players at Lake Natron. “Experience has shown that greater success is achieved when Government agencies, NGOs, the private sector and leaders at all levels work together. We believe that this WMBD event will go a long way in cementing this collaboration for enhanced protection of Lake Natron”, said Mr. Sadiki Laisser Lotha, the Communication Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Officer, Wildlife Division-Wetland Unit, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania.
“The celebration of World Migratory Bird Day at Lake Natron and the choice of Lake Natron as one of the Destination Flyway sites is a demonstration of the international community’s confidence in Government, civil society and local communities in the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African region to safeguard the site” said Ken Mwathe, the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at BirdLife International Africa Regional Office. “We must affirm this confidence by promoting the values of Lake Natron for the benefit of the people and biodiversity”, he said
The annual World Migratory Bird Day campaign is organized by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) – two intergovernmental wildlife treaties administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For this year’s campaign, CMS and AEWA partnered with UNWTO and others to highlight the mutually beneficial relationship between tourism and conservation.
World Migratory Bird Day 2014 was celebrated in over 70 countries on 10-11 May and focused on the role sustainable tourism can play in conserving one of the world’s true natural wonders: the spectacular movements of migratory birds along their flyways. For more information please see: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org
For more information please contact: Festo Semanini, BirdLife Tanzania Project Office Email: Festo.Semanini or Sadiki Laisser Lotha, Wildlife Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Email laissersadiki
Story by Ken Mwathe and Festo Semanini – Email: Ken.Mwathe
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Reblogged this on My Blog.
Thanks, much appreciated.
W.