I saw this on safaritalk but thought I'd add a thread here for those interested. Not great news from a conservation standpoint. A complex issue, of course, but I feel pretty sick about it, given the location smack-dab in the middle of the Great Migration.

http://www.eturbonews.com/16327/new-...ough-serengeti

Leely -

IMHO, the chances that a road of any consequence might be constructed in the SNP (or anywhere in TZ) are pretty slim.

In two previous trips to TZ, we saw two instances of intentional work in the roads, both in Serengeti NP. One was a grader just East of Naabi Hill Gate that was making more of a mess than improvement. The second was a washout repair on the main road NW from Seronera that didn't seem to be going forward.

There are many things that threaten the wildlife in TZ, but infrastructure improvements are not high on that list!

Jim.

Otis, I really hope you are right!

There is a petition circulating to stop the highway. Many conservationists are concerned that this *will* happen because there is "big" money behind it.

http://www.change.org/petitions/view...engeti_highway

Sometimes in Africa words don't have the same meaning as elsewhere in the world. Highway..conjurs images of an I95 with three to four lanes carrying pantechnicons of goods at 70 miles an hour... a definite threat to life and limb human or mammalian.. But in Mon Afrique, this could be a dusty road curving through lagas and hills, after a year potholed and corrugated. I suspect not a great threat to anything.. perhaps an eyesore for those that believe that conservation is preservation and for us that like wild places to be as pristine as the day that mother nature birthed them. another scar in the environment.

At least it is not an oil spill in the gulf and maybe it will drive tourism further afield in Tanzania boosting economies ultimately distracting those that use the park for meat to another source of income?

mkhonzo,
Unlike the dirt road we're all familiar with that goes north and south through the Serengeti, it is a tarmac highway going straight through the northern area (east to west) of the Serengeti. And yes, it will carry huge, fast moving trucks which will, in turn, pose a problem for migrating wildlife.

Here is a link to the proposed road (in red)
http://thewildernessphotography.blogspot.com/

Otis72, would that you were right, but your facts are far from straight. The graders you see are part of the "regular" maintenance of the murram roads in the park, which yes, frequently fall into disrepair. The reason being that the national parks budget runs these things, and can be a bit on the scant side. What we are talking about here is a different beast entirely. Funded by the federal government using donor dollars, they are proposing to build what will be THE major transport road through to the lake (Vic), which is the center of a good deal of industry, not the least of which is the fisheries. This road will get a lot of use, and wreak a lot of havoc. There is an alternative route which would pass south of Serengeti and Maswa. Slightly longer but probably preferable to the truckers who will not be held up by park gates and speed bumps, and certainly preferable from an environmental standard. At risk is not only Serengeti but important pastoral buffer areas in Loliondo and the fragile environments of the Natron basin. It is important to note that this road will not be an economic panacea to the villages through which it passes, as HIV tends to spread along major transport routes.

I should also note that the idea of this road has been tossed around for years, and earlier assessments broadly panned it, but the central government is now strongly pushing it. Surveyors have been there in the past months and national parks have been told to butt out. This is not a casual threat.

What can a non-Tanzania do to help prevent this?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com...the-serengeti/

~doo

Doohickey,

I may not have read carefully enough, but I did not see what a non-Tanzanian can do to help prevent a road that may eventually become fenced on either side (according to the blog) thereby completing blocking the wildebeest migration, resulting in thousands of dead animals.

I would think self-interest would prevent Tanzania from doing this and apparently President Kikwete is a nature enthusiast, which helps the cause.

But were there contacts mentioned?

If the end result is along the lines of what Otis and Mkhonzo envision, then that could have some benefits. But it looks much more intrusive. Short of the Gulf oil spill but closing in on disastrous.

Lynn, no the NYTimes article didn't offer anything about what a non-Tanzanian can do to help. That frustrated me. I, too, believe it a disaster in the making and hope the govt comes to it's senses and uses the southern proposed route.

I would really like to know if there is something that us foreign nature enthusiasts can do to prevent this - even if it's just a letter writing campaign we can participate in.

Below is one of the comments in the NYT about the proposed Serengeti Commercial Road and Singita Grumeti.
****************

"This road has a simple explanation, it would make much more economic sense to put a road through the densely populated and productive region further south, but the question in Africa is always ‘where is the money coming from’ to get the planning this far? A hedge fund billionaire called Paul Tudor Jones has an ‘exclusive wildlife park called Singita Grumeti Reserves that borders the west of the Serengeti Park, and transecting through the middle of his park is the current main road. He is lobbying with cash and connections to move this road off his land (and the park headquarters as well as a village called Rubanda), the most simple solution for this road is to move it north, it is the only solution that will get this current road closed (if the road was to take the more economically preferred route further south, this road would still remain as it is the only trunk road passing the park). Apart from moving the road, Mr Tudor Jones has also contributed to the new Rhinos purchased from South Africa and intends to build an international airport in the nearest town. We are talking loads of money and a drive to get what he wants, amazing what you can do with a bit of cash."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-T...25601617471610

http://www.change.org/petitions/view...engeti_highway


two petitions

Roissy17 thanks for highlighting that point.

As always, follow the money.

This makes no sense at all. I would think that even fabulously rich people don't want to see dead animals lining the road en route to their exclusive Grumeti holiday. What are they thinking?

I am somewhat puzzled that this thread isn't bursting.

Shows how little concern is dedicated to the destination and whats happening there.

Sad, very sad - but eye opening!

SV

I'd rather people be signing the petition and contacting tourism officials and even tour operators than commenting here.

You're right, Lynn. Personally I've signed every petition I could find. Is there something else we could do as a group of wildlife lovers? Something constructive that carries some weight? Does anyone have any suggestions at all? Since money seems to talk most loudly, is there some way we could perhaps add up the amounts the members of this board have spent on their respective safaris to TZ over the last 3-5 years? Perhaps organize some TAs to pull together their Serengeti-related numbers & present that to someone in a position of authority? I'm happy to volunteer as much time & effort on this as needed.

If it can be proven that Mr. Jones is indeed the prime mover behind this effort, could we perhaps entreat all TAs to educate their potential Grumeti clients about what could happen if the road went ahead and then let their clients decide if they want to put their money there?

Just random ideas, but there must be a way we can weigh in on the process - albeit in small ways.

Hi everyone... a Travel Industry coalition is being formed:

http://www.savetheserengeti.org/issu...ngeti-highway/

If you know anyone in the Travel Industry, make sure you send them to this page and tell them to join! Power in numbers!

Hi, erveryone.
Let's sign this petition http://animals.change.org/petitions/...engeti_highway and hope that the Tanzanian government will not go through with this stupid idea.