Stop the Serengetti Highway

2nd July from Mongabay.com

A long read but interesting. Final paragraph

"Of course we can build a wildebeest-migration-friendly road across the Serengeti," Leaking insists. "It will just cost more."

With that Leakey throws down the gauntlet for all stakeholders: what is the Serengeti worth?

http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0702-hance_serengeti_leakey.html

Lai

As you say Lai interesting read, and I suppose he does have a point. Clearly an overhead road would be a good solution if it could be done. Also he's right about the encroachment in the Mara, and yes people should be allowed to develope there economy, its trying to do it in the most ecological way possible thats the problem.
WS

An interesting piece on the Serengeti road. Long but worth reading.

http://www.serengeti-wildlife.com/serengeti-road_-_only_crisis_or_opportunity.php

Lai

Thanks Lai will check up on that later when I've a bit more time
WS

WS

The Epoch Times via Stop the Serengeti Highway facebook page

China Fuels East African Elephant Poaching

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/poaching-china-ivory-kenya-tanzania-2-32389.html

Lai

Thanks Lia. Might have guessed China again, just goes to show as we said in the, Is China Changing thread actions speak louder then words, and if their diplomats are buying Ivory then thats the action China is taking.
Good to see that the villagers now realise that the Elephants are good for the tourist trade, and seem to trying to save them
WS

WS

Thanks WS - I hadn't got around to reading my e-mail. This Highway is still continuing to be a major threat, although this looks positive for the railway to be re-routed.


Lai

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/TZ+loses+battle+over+Serengeti+road+project+/-/1066/1367234/-/76ffkiz/-/index.html

that's brilliant news.

Thanks for the link Doogs.

Lai Pai

Sorry Guys it looks like it's not over yet.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/serengeti-highway-2102.html

WS

Thanks Doogs.

Lai

China's new president, Xi Jinping, is on the move.
His first stop, Russia, second Tanzania, then South Africa and the Congo. Those of you who have followed the ongoing saga of the Serengeti know what this means...

As the illicit blood ivory trade to China clearly illustrates, massive new Chinese investment does not bode well for Africa's wildlife. China is intent on extracting as many resources from Africa as it can. And it doesn't attach strings to protect natural areas as Western donors often do. The Serengeti, it may turn out, is simply in the way.
A spokesman for the Chinese government said the new president considers Tanzania a top priority.
In Tanzania this week, China's president will inaugurate the construction of a new sea port at Bagamoyo. Though small, the port reflects China's interest in shipping resources from deep inside Africa. China has had a long relationship with Tanzania, which provides an ideal outlet for neighboring landlocked countries.
A Tanzanian spokesman said that China will be supporting Tanzania in other projects, including a satellite city and airport. This, he said, will be in addition to a "major highway connecting the port to inland regions of Tanzania as well as neighboring countries."
As we have reported, big plans for transport corridors throughout East Africa have been thrown about for years. But now these are building momentum and coming off drawing boards.
The World Heritage Site of Lamu in Kenya is undergoing massive port development. Another new port at Mwambani harbor in Tanzania is expected to be the terminus of a railway to Lake Victoria and Uganda. See: Tanzania and Uganda sign rail pact with Chinese
An article in the Tanzanian press last November stated that this transport corridor...

"is expected to pass through the world famous Serengeti National Park, a development which environmentalists had vehemently opposed, arguing that with noisy trains passing through the wildlife sanctuary the ecosystem would be disrupted. This is what had caused the plan to be shelved during the reign of the late President Julius Kambarage Nyerere when the idea was first mooted in the late 80s."

Watch for more alerts

WS

Thanks WS. I've been getting the emails and follow on FB and it doesn't look good for the Serengeti. Sadly the chinese are all over Africa and there is no way to stop what is happening.

Lai

   

Lai

Thanks Doogs for putting the news on. I did get the email, but haven't had chance to post it. Brilliant news lets hope it sticks

WS