By ADAM IHUCHA
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area is at risk of losing its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site, as the government has approved construction of more hotels in the area in breach of Unesco guidelines.
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area is at risk of losing its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site, as the government has approved construction of more hotels in the area in breach of Unesco guidelines.
A few years ago, Unesco had threatened to delist the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, citing increased human activities such as hotels,
cultivation, and livestock populations within the fragile ecosystem.
Now, the government has authorised the construction of a
major hotel and three semi-permanent camp sites within the area, potentially
placing it at risk of being removed from the list of World Heritage Sites.
The EastAfrican
is in possession of government documents that show that Leopard Tours Ltd, Kibo
Palace Hotels, Camden Holdings Ltd, and Maasai Sanctuaries have been allocated
large blocks of land within the protected area to develop hotels and campsites.
“I have instructed the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
management to offer you a five acre campsite with a lease fee of $30,000 per
year, half of the normal charge of $60,000,” reads a letter from Natural
Resources and Tourism Minister Khamis Kagasheki to Leopard Tours Ltd.
The firm will put up a semi-permanent campsite in Ndutu area
within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Camden Holdings Ltd will occupy
Misigiyo site, with Maasai Sanctuaries being apportioned Oloololo area, whereas
Kibo Palace will set up a five-star hotel on 20 acres located on the crater’s
rim.
Ngorongoro Member of Parliament Kaika ole Telele said he was
surprised at the government’s move because it had banned subsistence farming by
the local Maasai over concerns about the environment.
“This is a case of double standards,” said Mr Telele.
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Peter
Msigwa is furious over the government’s move, saying the opposition will work
on stopping the deals.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established in 1959 by
Ordinance No 413 of 1959 as a multiple land use area, designated to promote the
conservation of natural resources, safeguard the interests of the area’s
residents and promote tourism.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is unique in that the
conservation of natural resources is integrated with human development.
Statistics show that the 8,292 square kilometres area has a
human population of over 64,842 people, 13,650 head of cattle, and 19,305 goats
and sheep, making the area overpopulated.
Experts fear that increased human and livestock populations,
coupled with development activities, will put pressure on the fragile ecology
of the area, which is famous for its natural and cultural heritage sites. These
include the Ngorongoro Crater, the Olduvai and Laetoli archaeological sites,
montane forests, and several crater lakes.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can only support 25,000
people if it is to remain ecologically stable. It is a leading tourism
attraction on Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and receives around 500,000 tourists
annually, who bring in nearly $60 million.
The area boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and
archaeology.
Declaration
Unesco declared the Ngorongoro Crater a Natural World
Heritage Site in 1979. According to a Unesco report on Ngorongoro Conservation
Area, both international conservationists and green activists are concerned
about cultivation activities within the area; traffic congestion inside the
crater and major construction projects.
The crater receives nearly 300 vehicles per day during the
peak tourist season, something experts say is a danger to the site’s ecology.
“The anticipated growth in tourism in Tanzania, and
particularly within conservation areas, poses significant challenges for
Ngorongoro Conservation Area,” reads the Unesco report, suggesting that it is
important for the government to develop a tourism strategy that will enable the
conservation area to proactively manage tourism.
The UN body is also concerned with erosion associated with
cattle accessing the crater, demanding that the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in
collaboration with the Maasai people and Pastoral Council explore alternatives
to limit or stop livestock grazing in the crater.
0 comments:
Post a Comment