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BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER
17th November 2011
The wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania(WCST) has said there is a need for a comprehensive strategic approach to the planned development of a road through the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania.
"The WCST would like to see a comprehensive strategic approach for meeting transport needs and integrating these needs with environmental objectives and people's needs," said WCST vice chairman Anna Lema.
She said recent reports by local and international media that WCST was advocating for an underground tunnel through Serengeti did not reflect the official position of WCST but was the idea of one or two individuals.
"We strongly believe that such a strategy would identify suitable transport solutions that will be environmentally sustainable and economically viable, thus benefiting the largest number of people and stimulating economic development," she noted.
She said WCST recognised the need for Tanzania to upgrade its transport infrastructure by increasing access for local people all over the country including around the Serengeti National Park.
"For many years, the authorities have spent considerable resources on studies of potential routes for the Musoma–Arusha Highway and all studies have considered social environmental impacts of the highway on the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area," she said.
Lema said the WCST supported the authorities to develop a sustainable transport network in northern Tanzania.
She was responding to some reports from some media outlets that the WCST was advocating an underground tunnel through the Serengeti National Park.
She said the WCST worked in partnership with conservation stakeholders throughout the world to promote best options that might be applied to serve the Serengeti ecosystem.
"Our strategic position so far is to advocate the southern alternative route, that passes through Mto wa Mbu, Lalago to Mugumu in Mara region," said the vice-chairperson.
It was erroneously reported that the WCST had proposed the construction of a 53-km tunnel between Klens Gate and Tabora B on the projected Arusha-Musoma Highway to circumvent the disputed stretch across Serengeti National Park.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
