Tanzania and the Federal Republic of Germany are jointing implementing special initiatives to ensure that residents of villages in the six districts surrounding Serengeti National Park, directly benefit from related tourism and conservation programs.
Serengeti, which is Tanzania’s third biggest National Park and the country’s most popular tourist destination, is entering a new chapter in conservation where all the villages surrounding the conservancy are actively being engaged in the protection of its wildlife and natural resources….
…And of course benefiting in the process.
“This new development in conservation seems to be paying dividends, because cases of poaching and illegal harvesting of resources have significantly dropped,” reveals the Assistant Commissioner of Conservation, Moronda B. Moronda who commands over the Serengeti National Park.
According to ACC Moronda, the participatory approach in conservation not only reduces wildlife poaching and illegal logging, but also sees various development projects mushrooming in the villages surrounding the Park.
“Local residents now come up with their own development initiative plans then the trustees of the Tanzania National Parks, in conjunction with international agencies who are partners in conservation, are currently making the villagers’ dreams come true through funding and supervision of the projects,” said the Conservator.
Speaking at Fort Ikoma Station, ACC Moronda revealed that there are over 35 major development projects being undertaken in the five districts that directly or indirectly border the Serengeti National Park.
The districts include Tarime, Bariadi, Bunda, Itilima, Ngorongoro (Loliondo) and Serengeti.
“The projects include those of Health, Education, Water and Sanitation as well as infrastructural development,” explained the TANAPA conservation officer Robert Samuel Masobeji, who is in charge of the Community Outreach Department in Serengeti.
Implemented under the Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project (SEDCP) to the tune of 24.34 Million Euros, the community projects are being financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the German Development Bank (KfW).
“It is encouraging to see that the villagers are realizing the importance of conservation efforts because they are now benefiting from the initiatives,” said the Acting Serengeti District Executive Director, Ally Ligalawike.
Ligalawike expressed appreciation to the management of the National Park for assisting the government in speeding up development projects in rural areas.
Among the projects valued at nearly 67.4 billion/- include the Rehabilitation of Rural Infrastructure in Serengeti District (SDC) Output 2, involving the upgrading of the 13 kilometers long Park Nyigoti –Nyichoka feeder road.
There is also the construction of Tabora B’ bridge along the Bisarara-Nyamakendo road and the Tamkeri Bridge, on the Mbalibali-Machochwe road.
Other projects currently implemented under the Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project include the construction of teachers’ quarters at Kazi and Kebosongo Primary Schools.
There is also the building of two classrooms at Kisangura Primary School as well as a large and modern dormitory for girl students at the Manchira Secondary School and a Dispensary in Bokore Village.
There is also the building of two classrooms at Kisangura Primary School as well as a large and modern dormitory for girl students at the Manchira Secondary School and a Dispensary in Bokore Village.
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