TANAPA TODAY

Transcription

TANAPA TODAY

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TANAPA TODAY
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS
JULY - SEPTEMBER, 2012 ISSUE 013
TANAPA and UNDP launch conservation project
Importance of wildebeests for Serengeti ecology
Tanzania receives
three rhinos from UK
“Conservation for Sustainable Development”
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TANAPA NEWSLETTER, July - September 2012
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CONTENTS
Regulars
0HVVDJHIURPWKH'LUHFWRU*HQHUDO From Editor’s Desk
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News
Executive Interview with TANAPA
Director General
TANAPA and UNDP launch conservation
project in protected areas
Tanzania Receives Three Black Rhinos From UK
TANAPA on a mission to promote Tanzania abroad
Tanapa Review Its Policy, Investment
Procedures and Customer Service Charter
3URGXFHUVDGYLVHGWRXVHGLIIHUHQW6WUDWHJLHVLQ
broadcasting their programmes
TANAPA to Prop Up More Tourist Circuits
News in Picture
Let us Plan Together!
1HZVLQ%ULHI Published by
Tanzania National Parks
Mwl. Nyerere Conservation Centre
P.O. Box 3134, Arusha Tanzania
[email protected]
Editor-In-Chief
Allan Kijazi
Editor
Pascal Shelutete
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National Park
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onto Kilimanjaro
Humours
Parks Contacts
Consulting Editors
Lilla N. Lyogello
Thomas Ratsim
Layout, Design & Printing
Cute Design. Tel. +255 22 2181218.
Cel. +255 715 / 754 296085
[email protected]
www.cutedesign.blogspot.com
Photographs
TANAPA Publishing Unit
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Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in this
publication or in adverts herein do not necessarily
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Features
Assistant Editor
Catherine G. Mbena
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Message from the
Director General
Allan Kijazi
Our dear valued readers,
May I take this opportunity to welcome you all in this special forum whereby we update you on corporate
activities and events in our world famous National Parks.
It is my expectation that we have all along tried our level best to produce this quarterly newsletter with
enough and relevant information useful to you all. As we are getting to the middle of the year 2012, it is
my responsibility once again to thank you all for the role you are playing in making sure that our parks
continue to be effectively managed for the betterment of the current and the future generations.
Rest assured that the Management of TANAPA works hard day and night to ensure that we offer quality
services to our customers who travel from various source markets to visit the spectacular attractions in
our parks. We understand that we have a special responsibility that has been bestowed to us by Tanzanians
and we commit ourselves that we will continue improving our services to world standards.
Our records in the past few months have shown an increase in the number of visitors in our parks, which
is an indication that our efforts of promoting the parks bear fruitful results. We have also managed to
observe some visitors from new markets such as the South Korea, China, Turkey and Russia visiting the
parks. We are currently reviewing our policy to accommodate new policy developments that will make
TANAPA offer packages of unique products and services that will be highly competitive. Through this
review, TANAPA will be able to engage in some business ventures so as to increase diversity of revenues
for the organization.
It is no doubt that all these changes will make a difference in meeting our customer’s expectations. It is
worth informing the public that poaching still remains a threat to the survival of some wildlife species.
We are doing our best to ensure that we get rid of this threat which tarnishes the image of our country.
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our wildlife. We assure full cooperation to all those who will volunteer to work with us in this endeavour.
,GRKRSHWKDW\RXZLOOÀQGHQMR\DEOHWRUHDGWKLVQHZVOHWWHUDQGZHLQYLWH\RXWRVKDUHZLWKXVDQ\LGHDV
that will enable our organization perform better.
Thanks
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Allan Kijazi
Director General
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REGULARS
From Editor’s Desk
Pascal Shelutete
Dear readers,
Hope all is well with you and the fact that we are in now in the middle of the year, doubtless our
Almighty God will continue leading us through to the end of it.
Your issue this time around brings you some palatable stuff ever seen elsewhere with an opening
exclusive interview with, Mr. Allan Kijazi, TANAPA’s Director General who shares with our readers
his vast experience in the conservation and tourism industry. He has a lot to offer you through his
interview.
In its move to work closely with various stakeholders both locally and internationally, TANAPA
together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a conservation
project in the southern part of the country. In the same line of working with conservation partners,
TANAPA has recently received three black rhinos from the United Kingdom as part of improving its
population in the country. This issuewill take you through and provide you with all the details.
Tourism being the secondary core function of the organization and at the same time being the main
source of revenue which is then ploughed back to conservation activities is paid attention by TANAPA
as we have now decided to use our embassies abroad to help promote our attractions. Some newly
appointed ambassadors were invited to visit some of these attractions in the parks.
The editorial team has also prepared some features which will help you become knowledgeable in the
areas of conservation and tourism in the parks which is actually the main purpose of this newsletter.
Last but not least, may I wish you once again good health in your endeavour and we also welcome
your ideas and opinions through the provided address below so that together we can improve our way
of communication with you all.
Thanks!
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Pascal Shelutete
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
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NEWS
On the carpet:
Allan Kijazi
Executive Interview with TANAPA Director General Allan Kijazi
our independence. Due to that, therefore, Tanzania ranks
second after Brazil as a country with wide expanse of
virgin land, natural growth and indigenous wildlife. And
much of the untouched, virgin land in the country lies
within the jurisdiction of Tanzania National Parks.
Question: Ordinary Tanzanian citizens would like to
know something about TANAPA and what it does in
terms of conservation
Answer: The Tanzania National Parks’ historys dates back
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public entity which has been granted total responsibility
to execute and oversee all matters of conservation in the
National Parks.
Q: What about achievements in tourism?
A: That is another area where we deserve a pat on the
back. Before independence Tanganyika used to get just
3,000 tourists per year. At the moment, independent
Tanzania attracts over 750,000 tourists in a year and
that is something TANAPA can be proud of. In other
words, even revenue earned from the tourism sector,
which depends on National Parks for over 90 percent,
has increased. Wildlife-oriented visitors account for
90 percent of all tourists coming to Tanzania. Over 17
percent of the total country’s income is raised from the
Tourism Industry.
Before independence in 1961, Tanganyika had only three
National Parks namely Serengeti, Lake Manyara and
Arusha but as of now, these have increased to a total of 15
National Parks and soon after the upgrading of Saanane
Island in Mwanza Tanzania will have the 16th National
Park. All this is in line with the government’s efforts to
identify, preserve and improve our natural resources and
heritage. The parks and national reserves are spread all
over the country.
Q: How can TANAPA be compared to other institutions?
A: After independence Tanzania had many state-owned
companies but many have since closed shop with a few
others struggling. TANAPA has not only maintained its
presence for 52 years, but it is also getting stronger by
greatly contributing to the country’s economy as well as
expanding its activities. TANAPA also provides direct
employment to nearly 2,050 people in line with the
government’s initiative to provide jobs for its citizens.
Also, the tourism industry which relies on TANAPA for
its products is the leading employer in the country. Arusha
7KH SHRSOH LQ WXUQ ZLOO EHQH¿W IURP VRFLDO VHUYLFHV alone has 350 tour companies most of them operating in
and community development projects that TANAPA the tourism attractions that involve animal gazing game
is executing in many villages in Tanzania because the drives. Thousands of other Tanzanians are also indirectly
natural resources and wildlife attract foreign exchange employed in tourism, hotel or conservation sectors or
when tourists come into the country just to marvel at the pivoted on natural resources and wildlife axis.
natural wealth that our country has been endowed with.
Q: Before TANAPA, how were the country’s natural
resources taken care of?
A: Initially, members of the local communities used to
undertake the task of preserving the resources. They
still have the same responsibility but TANAPA was
established to coordinate the efforts on their behalf for the
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contribute to the conservation efforts as well as helping
TANAPA to improve its activities.
Q: But how is the state of our parks in terms of
infrastructure, safety, public services and other
amenities?
A: Parks located within the Northern Tourism circuit are
well taken care of; we are talking about Serengeti, Lake
Manyara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Tarangire
Q: Apart from National Parks’ number increasing from
three to 16, what other achievements can TANAPA boast
of in the 50 years of Tanzania Mainland Independence?
A: Having many National Parks is one thing but the
outstanding thing about our parks is that they have retained
their natural state of existence since creation, something
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Continues on Page 8
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NEWS
Interview with TANAPA Director General ...
... Continued from Page 7
that have proper all-weather roads, high-class hotels and
good security. More efforts are being taken to ensure that
all other remaining National Parks are accessible and
provide high standard services. This year we started with
Ruaha, in the Southern circuit in which we are upgrading
the road network and constructing connecting bridges.
Katavi National Park is the next in the programme.
At TANAPA we take the issue of human resources very
seriously and constantly train and upgrade our staff.
Actually, we have a vision for the next 50 years in
which we target to be the world’s leading establishment
in providing quality tourism services and executing
conservation strategies. On safety, let me assure you that
we have never had any serious case of breach of safety
to tourists visiting our parks, but we still reinforce the
guides and security departments.
Q: What about community involvement in issues of
conservation?
A: Actually, this is one of the remarkable achievements
of independence because before 1961, we never had these
community programmes that involved local people in
conservation efforts. In the 1980s, we formed the ‘good
neighbourhood’ programmes with local communities
surrounding the National Parks. We have a special
department to cater for such programmes at respective
park’s level and at the headquarters.
70 percent of the costs, while the respective communities
pay the remaining 30 percent. We want to inculcate the
notion that TANAPA is not a donor but rather a partner to
their development.
Q: Local people don’t seem to like visiting parks; how
far have we advanced in promoting domestic tourism in
WKHODVW¿YHGHFDGHV"
A: The concept of National Parks was conceived during
colonial days when Europeans started them as places
to visit and relax with their families and friends as they
gazed at animals. Even after independence it is people
from Europe and America who continue to visit the
National Parks bringing along friends, but very few
Tanzanians have been touring our parks because they
believe the reserves are only for foreigners.
We recently started a countrywide campaign to promote
domestic tourism but we are challenged by lack of
affordable accommodation facilities because hotels
inside National Parks are too expensive for the locals.
Again, many Tanzanians cannot afford to hire tour
vehicles to take them into the parks. We have thus started
to construct accommodation facilities that can cater for
low income people, charging between TShs. 10,000/and 20,000/- per night and that is very cheap compared
to tourist hotels that demand up to US $ 200 (300,000/-)
a night.
We are working with the private sector to solve the
The department conducts training programmes and work transport problem in order to make people living far away
ZLWKYLOODJHVWRLGHQWLI\SURMHFWVWKDWFDQEHRIEHQH¿WWR from them to be able to access the parks at affordable
them in which TANAPA helps to execute them by meeting prices.
TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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8
Name of the Park
Arusha
Gombe
Katavi
Kilimanjaro
Lake Manyara
Mahale Mountains
Mikumi
Ruaha
Rubondo Island
Serengeti
Tarangire
Udzungwa Mountains
Saadani
Kitulo
Mkomazi
Establishment
1960
1968
1974
1973
1960
1980
1964
1964
1977
1959
1970
1992
2005
2005
2008
Size
328.4 sq.km
52 sq.km
4,471 sq.km
1,688 sq.km
648.7 sq.km
1,613 sq.km
3,230 sq.km
20,300 sq.km
457 sq.km
14,763 sq.km
2,850 sq.km
1,990 sq.km
1,062 sq.km
465.4 sq.km
3,245 sq.km
NEWS
TANAPA and UNDP launch conservation
project on protected areas
By Godwell Ole Meing’ataki
T
anzania National Parks (TANAPA) and the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) recently
launched a project known as Strengthening
the Protected Area Network in Southern Tanzania’
(SPANEST). The launching of the SPANEST project
which was done in Iringa Region is designed to lift the
barriers to the establishment of a landscape approach
to the management of biodiversity. The project aims
to increase the effectiveness of the National Parks in
protecting biodiversity and provide for the long-term
HFRORJLFDO VRFLDO DQG ¿QDQFLDO VXVWDLQDELOLW\ RI WKDW
system.
between isolated PAs, for larger mammal movements
and to buffer against climate change impacts and lack
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people to the area and to prevent the various threats to
the area.
The rationale behind this project which focuses on two
interlinked geographies across seven districts, Greater
Ruaha Landscape (37,000km2) and Greater Kitulo Kipengere Landscape (2,150km2), is to adopt a landscape
level conservation approach that goes beyond Protected
Area boundaries in their different forms or communal
lands by viewing landscapes as ecological blocks that
they provide. These landscapes have been selected based
RQ WKH IROORZLQJ FULWHULD %LRGLYHUVLW\ 6LJQL¿FDQFH
The focus of the project is in the Southern Circuit of Management Need; Management Opportunity and
7DQ]DQLD¶V 1DWLRQDO 3DUNV UHÀHFWLQJ WKH IDFW WKDW ZLWK Government Priority—both areas form part of the
some exceptions, the management effectiveness of HFRQRPLFDOO\LPSRUWDQW5X¿ML&DWFKPHQW
National Parks in this region remains sub-optimal,
relative to the Government’s desired levels and tourism SPANEST project is responsible for achieving the main
numbers remain low. The long term solution behind the two objectives which are Integrating Management of NPs
project is to build the management effectiveness of these and Broader Landscapes. This component will entail the
Protected Areas (PAs), reduce anthropogenic pressures creation of active and functioning inter-sectoral District
on the sites and secure biodiversity status within them. land management coordination mechanism between
The project has been designed to address Protected Area
management barriers of a lack of proper connectivity
Continues on Page 10 ...
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With her is Director General of TANAPA Mr. Allan Kijazi.
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NEWS
TANAPA and UNDP launch conservation project ...
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The total Project funds is USD $ 17,364,500 and the
Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Tourism and the Prime Minister’s
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11,000,000. UNDP Tanzania support in this project is
estimated as USD 1,000,000 in cash over the lifespan
of this project. Total Project cost from GEF is US$
5,304,500. The project will thus be executed by TANAPA
The second objective is Strengthening Protected
but in close collaboration on an implementation level with
Areas’ Operations. This will engineer the delivery of other government divisions as well as with community
an integrated package of Protected Areas management managed Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), civil
IXQFWLRQV7KHSURMHFWZLOOLQLWLDWH¿QDQFLDODQGEXVLQHVV VRFLHW\DQGSULYDWHVHFWRUVWDNHKROGHUVDQGZLWK¿QDQFLDO
planning on both landscape and individual Protected and technical support from UNDP. The project will be
Areas and will provide funding for basic infrastructure LPSOHPHQWHGIRUDSHULRGRI¿YH\HDUVIURP-DQXDU\
DQG¿HOGHTXLSPHQWDFURVVWKH6RXWKHUQ&LUFXLW6LWHV
2012-2017.
TANAPA, district authorities and the Wildlife Division
(WD) and will also involve planning, implementation,
and monitoring by key state and civil society partners on
biodiversity management measures for the Greater Ruaha
Landscape and Greater Kitulo-Kipengere Landscape.
This approach will secure PAs, wildlife corridors and
dispersal areas.
Tanzania The Paradise is here!
Visit our web for details:
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www.tanzaniaparks.com
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NEWS
Tanzania Receives Three Black Rhinos From UK
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0V'LDQH&RUQHUDIWHUWKHKDQGLQJRYHURIWKUHHUKLQRVIURP8.WR0NRPD]L1DWLRQDO3DUNUHFHQWO\
By TT Correspondent
The rhinos were translocated from
the United Kingdom by the donors –
Damian Aspinall and Amos George
of the Aspinall Foundation and Port
Lympne Wild Animal Park.
Tanzania National Parks has received three black
rhinos from Britain. The rhinos were handed over to the
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Honourable
Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki by the UK’s High
Commissioner Ms. Diane Corner in Mkomazi National
Park recently.
In her handing-over remarks, High Comissioner Corner
lauded Mr. Tony Fitzjohn of the George Adamson Wildlife
Preservation Trust as well as his talented and dedicated
Tanzanian team for building, stocking and managing
the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary to a highly professional
level where they were able to accept the donation of the
rhinos, protect them, breed them up and perpetuate the
very precious species.
During the handing over ceremony, Ms. Diane Corner
said that her country and Tanzania share very common
aims in protecting the remaining rhinoceros population.
The rhinos were translocated from the United Kingdom
by the donors – Damian Aspinall and Amos George of the
Aspinall Foundation and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
and ferried to Tanzania aboard a huge DHL 757 aircraft.
Ambassador Kagasheki told the envoy that the history
of black rhino population in Tanzania and Africa in
general has been one of a disappointment, saying during
The rhinos’ motorcade, which was under tight security,
arrived at Mkomazi National Park at 2:30 pm where Ms.
Corner handed over the wild animals to Ambassador
Kagasheki before they were taken to their cage at
Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary.
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NEWS
Tanzania Receives Three Black Rhinos ...
the 1960’s, it was estimated that there were about 70,000
black rhinos in Africa, of which 10,000 were in Tanzania,
the largest concentration of black rhino in Africa.
However, the Minister said by 1984, it was estimated that
Tanzania’s rhino population had been reduced by 70%
from 10,000 in 1960 to around 3,000. Worse still, said
Ambassador Kagasheki, “by 1990 black rhino number in
Tanzania had been reduced by over 97% to less than 100
animals, a tragic story indeed”, he pointed out.
“The severe decline in rhino numbers and the extent of
poaching throughout the country has continued to pose
a serious challenge in our anti-poaching operations,”he
said. Ambassador Kagasheki has asked communities
living around all national parks countrywide to offer
maximum support to wildlife conservation organs in
the country to ensure that black rhinos and other highly
endangered wild animals do not disappear from the earth
as the future generation will come and ask on the integrity
and worthiness of our existence at the time.
Earlier, the Director General of Tanzania National Parks,
Mr. Allan Kijazi, told the audience that black rhinos
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Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List in 1996 and is
listed on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora.
He said Mkomazi, whose status was upgraded to a
National Park on March 14, 2008, used to have a large
population of black rhinos until that population was
wiped out in the 1980’s, adding that Mkomazi hosted
between 150 to 250 eastern black rhinos back in 1968,
estimated at nine black rhinos per square kilometre. By
the 1980’s the population of the animals had dropped to
below twenty.
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NEWS
TANAPA on a mission to
promote Tanzania abroad
By Pascal Shelutete
grant’s gazelle. The envoys
enjoyed two days of
DQ]DQLD 1DWLRQDO 3DUNV UHFHQWO\ LQYLWHG ¿YH learning as they witnessed
newly-appointed envoys to Serengeti, Katavi and the migration of animals
Ruaha National Parks as part of its strategy to which takes place between
promote the country abroad. The visit was organized so -DQXDU\DQG0DUFKHYHU\\HDU
DVWRHTXLSWKHHQYR\VZLWK¿UVWKDQGNQRZOHGJHRIWKH
country’s natural resources especially in tourism so that After the adventure in thee
they can be in a better position to market the attractions northern circuit, they moved to
effectively. The ambassadors included Dr. Diodorus Katavi which is in the Western
ern
.DPDOD %HOJLXP 'U -DPHV 0VHNHOD ,WDO\ 'U Circuit. Katavi is Tanzania’s third
Ladislaus Komba (Uganda), Mohamed Hamza (Egypt) largest national park. It is found
d in the
and Philip Marmo (China).
remote southwest part of the country,
within the Rift Valley that terminates
minates
Their visit started in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s in the shallow, brooding expanse
anse of
most popular park and a world heritage site. The park Lake Rukwa.
is famed for its annual wildebeest migration, when six
million hooves pound the open plains, as more than Katavi’s number one attraction is hippos. Towards the
200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the HQGRIWKHGU\VHDVRQXSWRKLSSRVÀRSWRJHWKHULQ
wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing.
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one place, so does male rivalry heat up- bloody territorial
Even when there is no migration going on, Serengeti ¿JKWVDUHDQHYHU\GD\RFFXUUHQFHZLWKWKHYDQTXLVKHG
offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing male forced to lurk hapless on the open plains until it
opportunities in Africa ranging from great herds of JDWKHUVVXI¿FLHQWFRQ¿GHQFHWRPRXQWDQRWKHUFKDOOHQJH
buffalo to thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala to
The visit to Katavi gave an opportunity for them to pay
a courtesy call to the Prime Minister’s
home where they were impressed by
the Premier’s agricultural projects.
The ambassadors then completed their
adventure by visiting Ruaha National
Park in the Southern Circuit. In Ruaha
game viewing starts the moment the
plane touches down. Giraffes race along
the airstrip, all legs and necks yet oddly
elegant and zebras parade across the
runway in the giraffe’s wake. Beneath
bulbous baobab trees, a section of Ruaha’s
10,000 elephants –the largest population
of any East African national park, form a
protective huddle around their young.
T
Second only to Katavi in its aura
wilderness, Ruaha protects a vast tract of the rugged, semi
arid bush country that characterizes central Tanzania.
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Dar es Salaam and held a press conference organized by
Director General of TANAPA, Mr. Allan Kijazi (right) shares
a light moment with the Tanzanian Ambassador in Belgium,
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NEWS
He says the number of hotel rooms in the parks is not
VXI¿FLHQW WR FDWHU IRU PRUH WRXULVWV³7KLV LV DQRWKHU
TANAPA. TANAPA has promised to do the same for new challenge even if we (envoys) promote the parks abroad
envoys and those who are already overseas representing and guests turn up where will they stay if the hotels
the country in order for them to understand the challenges
in the parks such as Ruaha are rather limited?” asked
and opportunities of the parks.
Ambassador Hamza. According to Ambassador Hamza
7KH 7DQ]DQLD $PEDVVDGRU WR ,WDO\ 'U -DPHV 0VHNHOD people living close to the parks invade the protected
said they were surprised to learn that out of the 15 national areas and therefore need to be sensitized. He added, “The
SDUNVRQO\WZRPDNHSUR¿WDQGWKUHHKDUGO\EUHDNHYHQ JRYHUQPHQWQHHGVWRGRPRUHWR¿JKWSRDFKLQJDVWKH\
The parks that receive most visitors are Serengeti and were briefed by TANAPA that the problem is rampant as
Kilimanjaro followed by Tarangire, Lake Manyara and poachers use sophisticated weapons.
Arusha national parks. “We have a huge task ahead of us
in promoting tourism”, he noted.
“I think TANAPA needs helicopters for surveillance
which will help to scare poachers”, Komba added. On
He said that as ambassadors they have a role to play in infrastructure he said the government needs to improve
ensuring that they work closely with the government and
the quality of airports and airstrips in the western and
development partners abroad to open up the southern
and western circuit so as to encourage more tourists to southern circuits to make the areas easily accessible
visit the areas. Dr. Msekela said Serengeti is popular by tourists. He urged the government and TANAPA to
because the infrastructure is good and locals in the area set aside areas for investment so that investors can be
are involved in the development and protection of the easily allocated land. Ambassador Kamala proposed for
park and now the rest of the southern and western circuits increased tourist fees to match the value the tourists get
need to act the same.
for seeing various attractions in the parks.
Speaking on challenges, Ambassador Mohamed Hamza
said the Western and Southern circuits are less developed.
“Serengeti can be entered through various routes but take
a park like Ruaha there is only one route that is from
Iringa town which we were told that during the rainy
season it is a headache,” he noted.
“The money tourists pay as park entry is little in
comparison to the value of the attractions they see,” Dr.
Kamala said adding that the fees should be revisited.
According to TANAPA the fees for non-East Africans
ranges from 40 to 100 USD depending on the park.
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WRXUHG6HUHQJHWLIRUIDPLOLDUL]DWLRQYLVLWUHFHQWO\7KH\DUHIURPOHIW'U'LRGRUXV.DPDOD%HOJLXP0RKDPHG+DP]D(J\SW'U
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TANAPA Reviews Its Policy, Investment
Procedures And Customer Service Charter
By TT Correspondent
It is also clear in the document that TANAPA has a duty
to advertise all available investment opportunities such
as accommodation facilities and tourism activities to the
public through print and electronic media.
T
he management of Tanzania National Parks
met at Lake Manyara National Park recently to
review the organization’s Policy as well as its
Development, Action, and Lease Procedures (DALP)
and Customer Service Charter.
,Q D PRYH WR HQVXUH WKDW FXVWRPHUV DUH VDWLV¿HG ZLWK
the services offered by TANAPA, the management also
reviewed its Customer Care Service Charter which is a
commitment to always provide its customers with the
optimum standard of services.
The meeting which was chaired by the Acting Director of
Planning, Development Projects and Tourism Services,
Dr. Ezekiel Dembe was meant to enable TANAPA to
FRSHZLWKYDULRXVFKDQJHVWKDWRFFXUUHGGXULQJWKH¿IW\
years of its existence.
Both the review of the policy and the investment
procedures focus on making the parks with their wildlife
³7$1$3$ZDVHVWDEOLVKHGRYHU¿IW\\HDUVDJRZKHUHE\ ÀRUD DQG IDXQD DQG XQWUDPSOHG ODQGVFDSHV WKH FKRLFH
a number of policies in the country have also been remaining pieces of the biosphere that is the quality
established. We, therefore, need to adjust ours so as to of life on earth. It is further insisted that the continued
cope with those changes and thereby avoid unnecessary health, welfare and survival of our parks and wildlife
collisions”, said Dr. Dembe during the opening of the UHÀHFWWKHVWDWXVRIWKHKXPDQFRQGLWLRQ
meeting.
There is now a need to have a balance between
The meeting which comprised of all the Directors, preservation and use to ensure the long-term survival of
Managers and Chief Park Wardens also had a detailed WKHSDUNVDQGZLOGOLIHLQDZD\WKDWEHQH¿WVERWKORFDO
discussion on improving the organization’s DALP and regional populations as well as international visitors.
GRFXPHQW DV WKHUH ZDV D QHHG IRU 7$1$3$ WR EHQH¿W TANAPA has a role to ensure that in balancing this act,
from the investment process in the parks.
these landscapes of the parks remained unspoiled, as
benchmarks to what once was and to serve as the last
TANAPA’s DALP document requires all developmental bastion of hope for the preservation of biodiversity.
activities within the national parks to comply with the
requirements listed in it as well as the approved park plans. The DALP document is also focused on planned
The document also provides a step by step procedure for investments in the parks for generating revenues for
seeking approval to develop roads, facilities or activities FRQVHUYDWLRQ DQG SHUSHWXDO EHQH¿W RI QDWLRQDO DQG
within any National Park in Tanzania.
international community without impairing the resources.
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NEWS
Producers advised to use different Strategies in
broadcasting their programmes
By TT Correspondent
Producers of educational programmes to the public
through Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) were
advised to apply different strategies in broadcasting their
programs to the community in order to deliver accurate
information. The call was made recently by the Iringa
Regional Commissioner, Dr. Christine Ishengoma when
opening TBC’s stakeholders workshop jointly organized
by TBC and TANAPA.
During the meeting which was attended by radio
programme producers from government and non
governmental institutions, Dr. Ishengoma said that it
is high time now program producers insist on reaching
wider audiences in their program especially communities
in the rural areas.
Participants were also advised to use social media to
advertise and broadcast their programs because a large
percentage of people are now using internet in getting
information. It was established during the training that
in Tanzania 70 percent men use a social network of
Facebook and women is 30 percent while Kenyan women
use Facebook than Men. Also 80 percent of people use
mobile phones in listening to radio and therefore it is
advised that companies and private institutions use these
networks in broadcasting and announcing their subject in
order to be parallel with the new technology.
The meeting was closed by the Director General
of Tanzania National Parks, Mr. Allan Kijazi who
congratulated TBC for preparing the training and said
that TANAPA will continue offering necessary support
in organising training workshops for public educators.
She further commended efforts by TANAPA and TBC for
RUJDQL]LQJVXFKDPHHWLQJZKLFKVLJQL¿FDQWO\KHOSVWR
train producers of public education programmes.
The meeting was held for ten days and the producers
were equipped with knowledge on various aspects such
as how to prepare radio programs; how to pre - test the
programmes before reaching the audiences and how to
understand the audience of the programmes.
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TANAPA to Prop Up More Tourist Circuits
By TT Correspondent
Tanzania National Parks recently organized a
workshop with the northern zone senior journalists
to discuss ways on how to promote domestic tourism
in the country.
The Director General of the Tanzania National Parks
(TANAPA), Mr Allan Kijazi appealed to the media
to promote the underrated Western and Southern
tourism circuits.
%LUGVDW5XERQGR,VODQG1DWLRQDO3DUN0ZDQ]D
Other unsung but Tanzania’s attractions with
tourism potential include islands like the Rubondo
of Mwanza, Lake Tanganyika peninsulars such as
Gombe and Mahale and the virgin Edens found
within Katavi National Park.
Mr Kijazi is of the view that the country stands to
gain much more if the other tourist attractions in
the West and South will be opened up and highly
promoted globally.
“The government is already working to open up
the Southern Corridor through ambitious road
construction projects but more efforts are needed to
make the world aware of the south and encourage
tourists to sample the Western and Southern
attractions of Tanzania,” maintained the TANAPA
Director General.
The Director General also pointed out that, domestic
tourism was almost non-existent with very few locals
visiting the country’s attractions and admitted that
the high costs of travel and hotel accommodation
hampered the growth of this segment adding that
TANAPA was working to remedy the situation.
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1DWLRQDO3DUNUHFHQWO\
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NEWS IN PICTURE
News in Picture
Director General of TANAPA Mr. Allan Kijazi
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TANAPA’s Director General
Mr. Allan Kijazi (third left) in a
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Headquarters.
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APA Headquarters.
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Hon. Dr. Emm
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listening to
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NEWS
Let us Plan Together!
By Ellen Koppa
W
hen it comes to sustainable conservation
of protected areas, conservationists will
suggest and talk about land-use planning,
zoning and the establishment of buffer zones. These
methods are very useful but protected area managers
have no authority to implement them.They can only
DGYLVH RU LQÀXHQFH WKHLU DGRSWLRQ /LNHZLVH WKHVH
methods rarely work in places where protected areas
are under a lot of pressure from increasing human
settlements and activities as a result of growing
populations around them. Since protected area
managers are usually restrained from intervening in
such areas, they need to form alliances with those
who can.
Ellen Koppa
7KH¿UVWVWDNHKROGHUV¶ZRUNVKRSIRUUHYLHZLQJWKH
Lake Manyara National Park GMP was held in Karatu
RQWK-DQXDU\ZKHUHVWDNHKROGHUVSDUWLFLSDWHG
That of Arusha National Park was held on 28th
February at the Golden Rose Hotel in Arusha with
62 participants. In the workshops, participants were
invited to discuss, evaluate and suggest solutions to
issues and problems raised by stakeholders during
Earlier this year, TANAPA held two stakeholders’ reconnaissance surveys conducted by TANAPA
workshops
bringing
together
scientists, Planners.
conservationists, tourism industry partners,
Government authorities and park neighbours to Issues of concern addressed in the workshops can
participate in reviewing the General Management be grouped as those pertaining to the conservation
Plans (GMPs) of Lake Manyara and Arusha National of the parks’ resources; the protection of parks’
Parks. Simply, a GMP is a document that sets forth exceptional resource values and provision of
the basic management and development philosophy outstanding tourism services. Workshop participants
of the park and provides the strategies for solving also discussed about improving relations and
SUREOHPV DQG DFKLHYLQJ LGHQWL¿HG PDQDJHPHQW EHQH¿WVKDULQJEHWZHHQWKHSDUNDQGLWVQHLJKERXUV
objectives over a 10 year period after which it because after all; Neighbours are much more likely
is subject to review. Stakeholders are involved to help protected areas if protected areas help their
throughout the preparation of this document.
neighbors.
The GMP preparation process is summarized in the When it comes to sustainable conservation, there are
following illustration:
no easy solutions to problems posed by threats to
conservation. However, there are innovative solutions
TANAPA GMP Planning Process
worth sharing. One way of sharing is through holding
GMP Preparation Intent (N ew or R evision)
workshops where in-depth experiences and ideas can
be shared and exchanged. We thank all stakeholders
Reconnaisance & Resource Base Inventory
who participated in the Lake Manyara and Arusha
VW6WDNHKROGHUV·:RUNVKRS
National Park GMP review stakeholders’ workshops
and we welcome them again in the 2nd workshops
7HFKQLFDO:RUNLQJ*URXSV
ZKHUH WKH ¿QDO *03 GUDIW ZLOO EH SUHVHQWHG WR
Management Plan Compilation
respective park stakeholders before submitting the
same to the TANAPA Management and Board of
QG6WDNHKROGHUV·:RUNVKRS3UHVHQWDWLRQRIWKH)LQDO'UDIW3ODQ
Trustees for approval.
$SSURYDOE\7$1$3$0DQDJHPHQWDQG%RDUGRI7UXVWHHV
Come one, come all and let us plan our national
heritage together!
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Management Plan Implementation and Monitoring
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News in Brief
Cleanliness Awareness Campaign
at Kilimanjaro National Park
TANAPA bids farewell to its
retired Senior Management Staff
Tanzania
National
Parks
organized
Cleanliness Awareness Program at Mount
Kilimanjaro from 25th May, 2012 to 04th
-XQH 7KH SXUSRVH RI WKH FDPSDLJQ
was to involve local people living around Mt.
Kilimanjaro in cleaning the mountain before
WKHFRPLQJRIWKHQHZWRXULVPVHDVRQLQ-XQH
Moreover, the campaign was meant to offer
conservation education to the local people
especially on how to improve the mountain
cleanliness system of Trash In Trash Out
“TITO” so as to have more success on it.
TANAPA recently bid farewell to its
retiring Senior Management Team members
during the Master Workers Council held in
Morogoro recently. The retirees include the
former Director of Human Resources and
Administration Mr. Adamson Kariwa, the
Acting Director of Resources Conservation and
(FRORJLFDO 0RQLWRULQJ 0U -XVWLQ +DQGR DQG
WKH IRUPHU &KLHI 9HWHULQDU\ 2I¿FHU 'U 7LWXV
Kamani Mlengeya.
The campaign involved cleanliness on all six
routes which include Marangu; Machame;
Umbwe; Rongai; Mweka and Londorosi.
Local people were the ones who participated
fully in the campaign and they offered
maximum support and pledged to continue
doing so as this will now be an annual event.
7th World Ranger
Congress in Arusha
A
rusha will this year host the 7th
World Rangers Congress which
will be held at Ngurdoto Mountain
Lodge, near Arusha in Tanzania from
4th to 9th November, 2012. Hosting this
international event is not only an honour
for Africa and Tanzania in particular but
it will allow for local conservationists and
rangers to showcase the work being done
in the Region. Lasting partnerships may
also be formed in this way.
World Rangers Congresses provide the
opportunity for rangers from around
Kariwa and Hando whom served TANAPA
for 20 and 35 years respectively retired after
reaching their compulsory retirement age while
Dr. Mlengeya who served for 12 years retired
because he was recently elected Member of
Parliament for Busega Constituency.
Dr. Titus Kamani
0OHQJH\D
Mr. Adamson
Kariwa
0U-XVWLQ+DQGR
the world to get together and share their
experiences, hear about each other’s successes
and challenges, and to learn from each other.
These meetings have, in the past, also helped to
inspire many rangers to continue with the hard
work they are doing and in some cases spurred
someone to do more than they did before.
Past World Rangers Congresses have been held
in Poland (1995); Costa Rica (1997); South
Africa (2000); Australia (2003); Scotland
(2006) and Bolivia (2009).
21
NEWS
News in Brief ...
First Pan-African Conference on Sustainable
Tourism Management set for Arusha
At the gracious invitation of the Government
of the United Republic of Tanzania, the World
Tourism Organization is organizing the First
Pan-African Conference on Sustainable
Tourism Management in National Parks
and Protected Areas: Challenges and
Opportunities in Arusha from 15th to 19th
October, 2012.
chain. Furthermore, new partnerships and
business models shall impulse re-engineering
of park management structures in order to
PD[LPL]HWKHHFRQRPLFVDQGVRFLDOEHQH¿WV
to the local communities.
The conference aims to encourage
professional approach to better position “park
tourism” as one of the core components of
overall national park management in Africa
and to acquire an overview of the current
challenges in terms of demand and supply
TANAPA’s Best workers visit Botswana and Namibia
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TANAPA’s 2012 Best Workers were lucky to visit Namibia and Botswana for a study tour
which took them eleven days of remarkable memories. The delegation which comprised of
Best Workers from all the National Parks under the guidance of a member of the Board of
Trustees Madam Ruth Mollel was able to visit some tourist attractions and be able to have
a different experience on how they are conserving their protected areas.
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TANAPA Wardens attend Junior Policing
Management and Skills Training
:DUGHQ 3ULVFD /\LPR IURP 8G]XQJZD 1DWLRQDO 3DUN UHFHLYLQJ KHU SUHVHQW IURP WKH *XHVW RI +RQRXU 6HQLRU $VVLVWDQW
&RPPLVVLRQHURI3ROLFH$OLFH0DSXQGDGXULQJWKHSDVVRXWSDUDGHRI7$1$3$:DUGHQVFRXUVHDW.LGDWX3ROLFH&ROOHJHUHFHQWO\
By TT Correspondent
which has noted an increase of poaching incidences
recently.
T
anzania National Parks has started working
closely with the Tanzania Police Force in a
move to jointly deal with the poaching crisis
by giving wardens military skills.
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Director General of TANAPA Mr. Allan Kijazi
said that the training will improve the protection
of natural resources and wildlife in the parks. “We
believe that the skills acquired here will help you to
A total of 27 wardens from various National FRPEDWSRDFKLQJ FULVLV HI¿FLHQWO\DQG HIIHFWLYHO\´
3DUNV ZHUH UHFHQWO\ SDVVHG RXW LQ WKH -XQLRU said Kijazi during the pass out parade recently.
Policing Management and Skills Course at
He said the advancement in technology is a
Kidatu Police College in Morogoro. During the
challenge to conservationists as poachers also move
course, the wardens were able to learn various
with technology in their acts and therefore a need
skills such as Map Reading; Endurance; Human to work together with other stakeholders like the
Rights and Social Relations; Basic Criminal Police Force is not a choice but a must in order
Investigation; Basic Criminal Procedure and Basic to get rid of the crisis which has created a notable
Law of Evidence. Other subjects include Drills; concern worldwide.
Communication Skills; Disaster Management and
Environmental Protection; Auxiliary Police Duties On her part, the Chief of Training in the Tanzanian
and Administration; Intelligence Skills and Weapon Police Force, Senior Assistant Commissioner of
training
Police Alice Mapunda said that the Police Force
will continue working with TANAPA and offer its
The training which took them four months is a step maximum support including training of its rangers
forward by TANAPA in dealing with the problem so as to tackle the poaching crisis in the parks.
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FEATURES
Times and tides for the lake inspire
Manyara National Park
The Ecologist of Lake Manyara National Park, Ms. YUSTINA
ANDREW KIWANGO has been serving in her position in the
area for the past three years. She describes the timeline for
the reserved area, which started out in research activities. She
throws some light on the…
1960s: Animals against people
The ecologist reveals that Lake Manyara National Park is
among the earliest conserved areas in the country having
been established in 1960, a year before Tanganyika
(Tanzania Mainland) attained its independence. Yustina
explains that the park, when it started it served mostly as
a botany and zoological research precinct.
Yustina Kiwango
but also to see whether their astounding population could
cause adverse effect to other animals in the tiny park.
1970s: People against animals
,QWKHVWKHVFLHQWL¿FVWXGLHVDURXQG/DNH0DQ\DUD
suddenly changed with new developments. The number
of elephants was falling but another problem was rising.
The human population in areas surrounding the park was
growing and with it, the farms and other forms of human
activities, some being quite destructive to the ecology.
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In her own words: “Lake Manyara is probably the most
studied National Park after Serengeti and it started with
experts conducting researches on elephants and buffaloes
GXULQJWKHHDUO\VZKHQWKH-XPERVZHUHUHSRUWHGWR
have been increasingly aggressive and destructive to both It was realized that the animal corridors (passages) had
the neighbouring farms and households”.
been invaded by people or their related human activities
and these important natural wildlife strips were on the
The early researches were meant to address challenges verge of disappearing. The badly affected areas were
arising from the then huge herds of buffaloes and wildlife passages that crossed through the Mbulu-Mbulu
elephants that were becoming a menace to the surrounding and Mto-wa-Mbu areas of Karatu and Monduli districts,
communities. Coincidentally, during harvest times in respectively.
local farms it was also the period that the jumbos and
buffaloes would be getting out of the park heading to It is from such studies that the government learned
other destinations and their paths used to cut across farms that huge mammals like elephants and buffaloes had
and households with disastrous consequences.
WHUULWRULHVWKDWZHQWEH\RQGWKHRI¿FLDOSDUNERUGHUOLQHV
As the result from expert suggestions, the Marang’ forest
The huge numbers of the large mammals prompted more was annexed in 2009 and included in the Lake Manyara
VWXGLHV QRW RQO\ WR ¿QG ZD\V RI VROYLQJ DQLPDOKXPDQ
FRQÀLFWVWKDWUHVXOWHGIURPWKHHOHSKDQWVVSUHDGLQJDIDU
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Continued From Page 24 ...
3DUN$OVRWKHRULJLQDOZLOGOLIHSDVVDJHVZHUHLGHQWL¿HG FDVHVRIWKHODNHGU\LQJXSUHSODFHGÀRRGVDWDOPRVWWKH
and laws and regulations formulated to protect them from same rate. The lake has been losing 90 percent of its
waters every two years with siltation bogging its depth
human invasions.
by up to 2 metres.
1980s: Water against animals and people
New researches have started to see why the lake keeps
drying with regular occurrences. So far early results have
VKRZQWKDWWKHODNHEDVLQKDVEHHQÀDWWHQHGRXWE\PXG
DQG GHEULV GHSRVLWV ZKLFK PHDQV LI WKH ZDWHU ÀRZ DQG
UDLQIDOOUHVXPHWKHIXWXUHÀRRGVZLOOFDXVHPRUHGLVDVWHUV
than in the past.
Floods suddenly became a new problem. Affecting
both people and wildlife as the lake used to swell and
submerge most parts of the park as well as surrounding
farms and residential areas.
$FWXDOO\ ÀRRGV XVHG WR EH D UHFXUULQJ SKHQRPHQRQ DW
Lake Manyara and it was something that kept being
experienced after every two or three years since the 1960s
but the problem escalated in the 1980s. There were times
that helicopters had to be used to airlift people who were
WUDSSHGLQWKHÀRRGHGDUHDV
The importance of the park
Lake Manyara National Park with an area of not more
than 330 square kilometres, with two-thirds of that being
the lake itself, adds up to the list of Tanzania’s small
parks.
5HVHDUFKHV ZHUH DJDLQ FRQGXFWHG WR DGGUHVV WKH ÀRRGV
problem and experts advised the starting of irrigation
farming. Plots were established around Mto-wa-Mbu
and local residents started working on the new type of
DJULFXOWXUH,WZDVDGYLVHGWKDWWRKHOSUHGXFHZDWHUÀRZV
into the Lake from the rivers that emptied there, farmers
should tap the water from the rivers and then use it for
irrigation.
Like its name, the park’s existence solely depends on
/DNH 0DQ\DUD 7KH EHDXWLIXO QDWXUH WKH YDULHG ÀRUD
and the exiting fauna make Lake Manyara National
Park an obvious place to spend a day or so on the way to
Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Lake Manyara National Park,
together with its corresponding water body is situated at
the bottom of the Great Rift Valley, which stretches all
WKHZD\IURP-RUGDQLQWKH0LGGOH(DVWWR0R]DPELTXH
and it has an intriguing ecology and a greatly varied bird
life, perfect for bird watching.
Currently: Drought against survival
In the past the lake reportedly used to be deep enough to
drown an adult human being, but now a toddler can crawl
with ease across its water surface. For the past 200 years,
the lake depth had averaged at six metres but of late the
depth has been getting shallow, inching just 0.3 metres,
which is over 200 times shallower than the original depth.
The reduction of over 99.5 percent of the lake’s water
depth was last recorded in 1923 when a major drought
spell hit most parts of East and Central Africa causing a
number of rivers and lakes to dry up.
There are 380 bird species that have been registered, and
DWPRVWWLPHVRIWKH\HDUWKRXVDQGVRIÀDPLQJRHVVHWWOH
down, feeding on algae as a pink ribbon along the lake.
The vegetation is also very unique, with groundwater
IRUHVW ZLWK KLJK ¿J DQG PDKRJDQ\ WUHHV DFDFLD IRUHVW
marsh area and grassland, as well as the hot springs in the
south. The park is especially famous for its tree climbing
lions. Except from the Ruwenzori Park in Uganda,
the lions in Lake Manyara are the only ones who have
this peculiar behaviour inherited from generation to
generation. Zoologists believe that they have attributed
WKLV KDELW WR DYRLG WKH ELWLQJ ÀLHV DQG WKH KHDW RQ WKH
ground.
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The decreasing depth has also been corresponding with
its fast shrinking water surface area. Manyara cannot dry
by 100 percent because a number of underground water
streams and rivers help to feed the lake. In recent years
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Importance of wildebeests for
Serengeti Ecology
The Park’s Ecologist, Dr. JAMES WAKIBARA, in this article explains why the
annual spectacular Wildebeest Migration, which was once termed as the World’s
10th Natural Travel wonder, also helps to save the ‘Endless Plains’ ecology from
climatic destruction.
'U-DPHV:DNLEDUD
This balancing of natural vegetation is very important to
the Serengeti ecology because if not reduced the grass in
7KH 6HUHQJHWL ZDV WKH ¿UVW HYHU 1DWLRQDO 3DUN WR EH WKHSODLQVFDQLJQLWHEXVK¿UHVWKDWLQWXUQPD\UD]HGRZQ
established in Tanzania. It is also the most popular and and destroy trees and shrubs; this way, the wildebeests
measuring 14,763 square kilometers. It is the second KHOSWRNHHSRXW¿UHRXWEUHDNV
largest in the country after Ruaha National Park.
Also, the fact that wildebeests keep migrating from one
Wildebeests are the keystone species for Serengeti both location to another, they assist in feeding meat-eating
in terms of the park ecology and its tourism trademark. species like leopards, lions and hyenas en-route and
There are more than 1.3 million wildebeests in Serengeti crocodiles when crossing rivers, thus helping to reduce
and this population has remained within that range other aggressive behaviours from the carnivorous animals.
So you can see that the ecology of Serengeti relies solely
for over 40 years. Now, when it comes to ecology, the
on the existence of the migratory wildebeests.
number of animals in relation to the corresponding ecosystem is an important denominating factor.
The size
The trademark migration
The number
By comparison to other ungulates, the Serengeti has just
400,000 Thomson Gazelles and 200,000 Zebras. Their
ratio compared to the wildebeest leaves a large gap.
Wildebeests eat grass in the plains and once they have
exhausted one part of the park they move into another,
leaving the grass in the original patch to start growing
again.
With over 1.3 ungulates feeding on the grass in the plain
at almost the same time, the whole movement resembles
a giant, live, nature operated mowing machine tending
the vast 14,763 square kilometres of the park.
Animal migration is nothing new. They take place in
many parts of the world. There are the migratory rats
RI 1RUZD\ DQG WKH 5XVVLDQ ELUGV WKDW À\ WR DV IDU DV
Serengeti and South Africa and then back to Russia.
However, when it comes to the migration of large inland
mammals then this is where Serengeti shines as being the
only place in the world where such spectacular happening
can be experienced.
In the case of Serengeti, the entire migration cycle may
cover more than 1,000 kilometres in total, taking the
entire year. This movement is mainly driven by the quest
for green pastures and drinking water.
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DWWUDFWLYHWRWRXULVWVIURPYDULRXVSDUWVRIWKHZRUOG
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Each year around the same time the great wildebeest
migration begins from February at the Naabi plains in
the southern parts of Serengeti within the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area. They usually gather there from
-DQXDU\WR0DUFKZKHQWKHFDOYLQJVHDVRQEHJLQVEHFDXVH
the ground in the area is full of phosphorous and calcium
which are important for lactation.
As animals have been living in the plains for millions of
years, we are sure they have their own ways of dealing
with drought, food and water shortages should these
occur.
There are animals that drink from the dew moistures
in the early morning hours thus managing to survive
the drought. Even in deserts there are animals who
manage to survive the condition. Others retain their body
water contents by neither perspiring nor urinating. Our
responsibility is to ensure that nothing interferes with
nature.
February marks the start of this great migration, coming
shortly before the long rainy season when the wildebeest
spend their time grazing and giving birth to nearly
500,000 calves within a two to three-week period.
7KHLU MRXUQH\ ODWHU ¿QGV WKHP LQ WKH .HQ\D¶V 0DDVDL
Mara by August, where they may remain for just a
month before beginning another ‘safari’ back between
September and October, this time heading to the East of
Serengeti Park.
Soil depth is shallow, and gets submerged during rainy
season but dries up fast after the precipitation has abated.
Serengeti thus becomes very dry during drought. We are
not worried with the short time drought spell because we
normally study long-time effects spawning ten to twenty
years.
In December they will be in the south-eastern parts from
where the nearly two million herbivores start their travel
from the northern hills toward the southern plains in
pursuit of rains and in preparation for another round of
breeding.
Achievements in 50 years
Retaining most of the wildlife species especially the
wildebeests is one of the remarkable successes for our
park. For over four decades the wildebeest population has
remained constant. We conduct census every two years
to ensure that the number is maintained. It is a positive
thing for the park because if the animals disappear or
their number shrinks, the vegetation control will not take
place.
Some 250,000 wildebeest die during the journey from
Tanzania to Maasai Mara Reserve in lower Kenya, a total
of 1,000 kilometres. Death is usually from thirst, hunger,
exhaustion, or predators’ attacks.
When water scarcity hits the plains
More bushes will mushroom in the park and with them
VZDUPVRIWVHWVHÀLHVQRWWRPHQWLRQUHJXODUEXVK¿UHVDQG
the annihilation of carnivores that feed on the ungulates.
We are working to replenish the Rhino population in the
park even though they have little effect on the Serengeti
ecology, they are just charismatic species.
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Mara, which originates from Kenya, is the only river with
FRQVWDQW ÀRZ RI ZDWHU WKURXJKRXW WKH \HDU 7KH RWKHUV
are Grumeti and Mbalageti that are seasonal. Even when
we detect shortage of water or experience drought spells
in the Serengeti we never interfere because anything
outside nature will disrupt the area’s ecology.
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The Arusha Manifesto:
where did it come from!
By Pascal Shelutete
Arusha Manifesto is very famous to most
conservationists in the country. However, most of us
do not know exactly what it means and we have even
confused it with the Arusha Declaration which was
actually established in 1967, almost six years after the
Arusha Manifesto in 1961. This article, amongst other
issues, analyzes what exactly is the Arusha Manifesto
so that we can understand it eloquently.
“The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern
to all of us in Africa. These Wild creatures amid the wild
places they inhabit are not only important as a source
of wonder and inspiration but are an integral part of
our natural resources and of our future livelihood and
well-being.
“ In accepting the trusteeship of our wildlife, We
solemnly declare that we will do everything in our
power to make sure that our children’s grandchildren
will be able to enjoy this rich and precious inheritance.
Pascal Shelutete
The Symposium came out with the world famous Arusha
Manifesto which expresses in clear terms the attitude
of the host Government of Tanganyika toward the
conservation and development of its wildlife resources. It
epitomizes also the tone of the discussions throughout the
Pan-African symposium on the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources in Modern African States, which
constituted the second stage of International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
The Arusha Smposium was attended by 139 participants
from 21 African and 6 Non-African countries, and 5
international organizations, not counting the Commission
for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the
Sahara and IUCN who were jointly responsible for the
preparation of the Conference. Among the participants
were 15 “fellows” from the Central African Republic,
Chad, Dahomey, Kenya, the Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Togo and Uganda. Funds for this
purpose had been offered by the American Conservation
Association, the Deutsche Afrika-Gesellsehaft, the
Fauna Preservation Society, the Governments of Sweden
and Switzerland, and by the United Nations Educational,
6FLHQWL¿FDQG&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ81(6&2
“The conservation of wildlife and wild places calls for
specialist knowledge, trained manpower and money and
eve look to other nations to co-operate in this important
task - the success or failure of which not only affects
the continent of Africa but the rest of the world as well.
Among the messages of interest and good wishes for
success that were sent to Arusha were those from Prince
Bernhard of the Netherlands and Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh.
These words were part of the speech delivered by the then
3ULPH0LQLVWHURI7DQJDQ\LND0ZDOLPX-XOLXV1\HUHUH
in September, 1961 (three months before Tanganyika
got independence in December, 1961) during the
International Wildlife Symposium, held at Arusha in the
then Tanganyika from 5th to 12th September, 1961, has
been justly described as the most important gathering of
conservationists and ecologists ever held in Africa.
In his opening address, Sir Richard Turnbull, then
*RYHUQRU RI 7DQJDQ\LND ZKR FRPELQHV ¿UVWKDQG
knowledge of the general deterioration of natural
resources with considerable experience of the human and
social problems of a modem African state, spoke in terms
of the disasters which will inevitably descend on the
people of a country if its natural renewable resources are
not conserved. He stressed the fact that the preservation
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Wildbeest Migration in the Serengeti plains
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*LUUDIIHFURVVLQJLQWKH6HUHQJHWLSODLQV7$1$3$KDVPDLQWDLQHGWKHQDWXUHRIWKH6HUHQJHWLHFRV\VWHPLQWKHSDVW
\HDUV
of wild animals, an undoubtedly great national asset,
was dependent upon one overriding consideration, the
preservation of the habitat.
which constituted a real threat to the natural resources of
Africa. He pledged FAO’s full co-operation and support
in assisting governments to develop a rational approach to
integrating the conservation and development of wildlife
resources into their programs of economic expansion.
He acknowledged that man and his domestic animals
were multiplying unchecked to bring about their own
ultimate destruction by ruining forever the land they
lived on. And after outlining the wildlife policy of the
Government of Tanganyika and the various problems
which this raised, he summarized the situation under
three main considerations:
A. Gille, of UNESCO, spoke in similar terms, giving
special emphasis to the need for general education in
WKH SULQFLSOHV RI FRQVHUYDWLRQ DV D EDVLV IRU LQWHQVL¿HG
rational use of Africa’s natural renewable resources if
the continent was to take its proper place in international
affairs.
Firstly; wildlife and wild nature were an undoubted
source of revenue needed for social services, and must
therefore be rationally “exploited”
The Economic Commission for Africa of the United
Nations (ECA) was also represented, and it was pointed
out that the organization was already planning to conduct
some research into the economics of tourism, based
essentially on wildlife, in East Africa.
Secondly; where this was the best form of land use; public
opinion, whose support was essential, must be convinced
of the value of this heritage;
It was clear also that many nongovernmental
Thirdly; international aid would be needed if the world in RUJDQL]DWLRQVVXFKDVWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO8QLRQRI2I¿FLDO
general wished to see Africa’s unique fauna preserved for Travel Organizations (IUOTO), the Conseil international
WKHEHQH¿WRIWKHSHRSOHRI$IULFD
de la chasse (CIC), the International Council for Bird
Preservation (ICBP) and the Fauna Preservation Society,
The joint organization of the meeting, under the co- were anxious to assist. And there were indications also of
sponsorship of FAO and UNESCO, boded well for such bilateral and private aid such as that given by the Frankfurt
LQWHUQDWLRQDOVXSSRUW-6$QQDQRI)$2GUHZDWWHQWLRQ Zoological Society which was putting up $5,600 for a
during the inaugural session to the destruction of wildlife, hostel for visiting children in the Serengeti Park.
coupled with inadequately planned land-use practices,
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The Arusha Manifesto ...
Continued from Page 29 ...
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aim at avoiding the occupation by agricultural and
pastoral communities of land unsuited for such use
In the light of such numerous and diverse offers of in the long term, and on the need for greater attention
WHFKQLFDO DQG ¿QDQFLDO KHOS WKH FRQIHUHQFH VWUHVVHG to the economic aspects of the development of natural
the overriding need for ensuring that such necessary resources. Finally, the wish was expressed that countries
assistance be channeled in such a way as to avoid wasteful assist in creating throughout Africa a type collection of
duplication, and thus encourage outside aid. It therefore QDWXUDOKDELWDWVDQGWKDWDTXDOL¿HGVFLHQWL¿FDXWKRULW\
warmly commended the implications of Stage III of be consulted on its establishment and on the research to
IUCN’s African Special Project as an essential follow-up be undertaken within each area.
to the conference and the change of attitude which it has
so clearly brought out.
As Professor Baer, President of IUCN, said during
the inaugural session, “Man in the past, out of sheer
The establishment of a team of two consultants, comprising ignorance or greed, has wastefully destroyed plant and
this Stage III, was considered as the only known effective animal life, forgetting that neither he nor his children’s
means whereby situations and needs in Africa could be children can ever become completely independent of their
analyzed and assessed, priority determined, and help environment, and overlooking the possible contribution
from outside adequately and impartially channeled.
that these now extinct forms might have made to his own
welfare.”
The members of the team were Thane Riney, senior
Fulbright fellow who had long been working in east The conference was a milestone in the history of the
and central Africa on wildlife management problems, development of an awareness of the need for conservation
and Peter Hill, previously manager of the experimental of nature in Africa. In the words of Professor Théodore
station attached to the Department of Agriculture of the 0RQRG 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH 6FLHQWL¿F &RXQFLO IRU $IULFD
University of Ghana. This team would be ready to begin South of the Sahara (CSA) and a member of the
work in Africa at the beginning of 1962, and its activities Executive Board of IUCN, Tanganyika has every reason
were planned in the light of requests for guidance which to be proud of the part she played in this big common
were already coming in to IUCN’s headquarters at effort, in hastening the day when Africa would be the
Morges.
shining example to the world of a continent which,
fully aware of the incomparable, irreplaceable value of
Other recommendations and wishes formulated by the its natural wealth, has devised ways of wise husbandry,
conference were on the subject of international aid for avoiding unneeded destruction and achieving a sense of
education and training in conservation at all levels; on interrelationship between man and his environment in the
land-use policies which should, among other objectives, interests of its own peoples and of mankind in general.
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Arusha National Park : A Water reservoir
The Ecologist at Arusha National Park, Ms GLADYS NG’UMBI explains
why the Arusha National Park (ANAPA) is a park that makes it possible for
Arusha City to get its food and water and Tanzania to have electricity power.
E
ach park in Tanzania has a unique factor and for
the Arusha National Park, which has Mount Meru,
Tanzania’s second highest peak at its epicentre,
is where all the water being consumed in Arusha city
originates.
0V*ODG\V1J¶XPEL
Tanzania National Parks later saw the importance of
bringing under the protection of Arusha National Park,
the natural resources especially neighbouring forests
that had been badly affected by irresponsible human
activities. Park expansions took place in 1962, two
years after the establishment of ANAPA and a year after
independence, then in 1964 and later in 1967.
Also Meru District, especially parts on the windward side
of the 4,566 metre high mountain, is considered among
the dependable bread baskets in the Northern Zone of
Tanzania and much of its agricultural activities depend
on the availability of water cascading from the protected
mountain and forest reserves making up ANAPA.
In 2005 again the Meru and Usa forest estates were
placed under the jurisdiction of Arusha National Park in
effort to protect water catchment areas and river sources
that were found there.
)UHVK FXW ÀRZHUV YHJHWDEOHV DQG IUXLWV JURZQ LQ
commercial farms dotting the Meru landscape, produce
practically all of the Tanzania’s horticultural exports and
these again rely on irrigation water tapped from rivers and
stream water gushing under the slopes of Mount Meru,
whose sources are well protected under the conservation
mandate of the Arusha National Park management.
At the moment special research programmes are being
undertaken to study the state of natural rivers, streams
and underground water catchments found in the forests,
as well as the quality and quantity of the water.
Arusha National Park is small but varying with
spectacular landscapes including the Mountain itself,
WKH0HUX&UDWHUZKLFKLVWKHVRXUFHIRUWKH-HNXNXPLD
River; the Ngurdoto Crater, vast lush-green grasslands, a
number of shallow alkaline Momella Lakes in the northeast and huge trees in its tropical forest cover.
The well-preserved mountain and the forest reserves also
supply water to neighbouring towns and regions, which
makes the Arusha National Park not only important to
wildlife, natural resources and tourism, but also a lifeline
for people and most parts of Arusha Region and the
country’s agriculture sector.
Despite the small size of the park, common animals
include giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, the black-andZKLWH &ROREXVPRQNH\ WKH EOXH PRQNH\ ÀDPLQJRV
and even the endangered wild dogs can occasionally be
spotted in hunting packs.
Arusha National Park is an important component in the
country’s hydroelectricity production because rivers
ÀRZLQJ IURP WKH SDUN MRLQ ZLWK WKH 3DQJDQL 5LYHU
forming the Pangani water current and the resulting falls African Elephants are present, but rarely seen. Similarly
from which electricity is generated. That water is also leopard, but there are no lions in the park and the rhino
XVHGE\ERWKWKHÀRUDDQGIDXQDLQWKHSDUN
VSHFLHV WKDW ZHUH RQFH ¿OPHG DWWDFNLQJ WUXFNV LQ WKH
¿OPµ+DWDUL¶ZKLFKZDV¿OPHGLQWKHSDUNVWDUULQJ
We constantly test the park’s water samples from rivers, +ROO\ZRRGOHJHQG-RKQ:D\QHKDYHORQJGLVDSSHDUHG
waterfalls and lakes to determine its quality because from ANAPA.
water is the most important component of Arusha
National Park supporting the area’s vast biodiversity.
The park, established in 1960, a year before independence,
then measuring only 137 square kilometers is home
WR ZDWHU ELUGV OLNH ÀDPLQJRHV DQG PDNRD
duck (bata makoa) and many
more others.
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Mount Meru, Tanzania second highest mountain
ZKLFKLVDSDUWRI$UXVKD1DWLRQD3DUN
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EXPERIENCE FROM THE FIELD
Minja: The man who guided ‘Uhuru Torch’
bearer onto Kilimanjaro
5HWLUHG 7DQ]DQLD 3HRSOH¶V 'HIHQFH )RUFHV 73') DUP\ RI¿FHU WKH ODWH /LHWQHQDQW $OH[DQGHU 1\LUHQGD LV
credited with erecting the Uhuru Torch on top of Mt Kilimanjaro on the eve of the country’s independence 50
years ago. But there is another unsung hero, EMMANUEL PETRO MINJA, who makes the other side of the
story, who actually carried the torch up the mountain on December 9, 1961.
By Pascal Shelutete
to be a nephew to yet another legendary name in Mount
.LOLPDQMDUR¶VKLVWRU\-RKQ/DXZR
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hile Lieutenant Alex Nyirenda, who died
aged 71 remains one of Tanzania’s most
remarkable heroes of all time for erecting both
WKH 7DQJDQ\LND ÀDJ DQG WKH ÀDPLQJ µ8KXUX 7RUFK¶ RQ
Africa’s highest peak, Emmanuel Petro Minja, his side
kicking guide, is the one who carried the brass torch.
-RKQ<RKDQL.LQ\DOD/DXZRPDGHKLVWRU\ZKHQDWWKH
age of 16 guided Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller to
the highest point of Africa on October 5, 1889. The two
*HUPDQV ZHUH UHSRUWHGO\ WKH ¿UVW (XURSHDQV WR FOLPE
Africa’s highest peak.
Lauwo was appointed by the Mangi (Chagga chief) to
be Hans Meyer’s guide when the two foreigners landed
in the Northern Tanzanian region of Kilimanjaro. Lauwo
was also born and lived his entire life in Marangu Village.
It was Lauwo again who recruited Minja to be his assistant
In those days, according to the 81-year-old Minja, there
when the latter was looking for a job; “My uncle gave
were no proper routes leading up the mountain, just me a 5-kilo luggage to take to the top of Kilimanjaro,
narrow, unkempt paths and at the particular time it had telling me ‘if I made it to the top without problem then he
rained heavily making the ground wet and slippery.
would hire me as his assistant’,” he recalls. Apparently
Minja passed the test and since then he served as porter
0LQMD H[SODLQV WKDW 0ZDOLPX -XOLXV 1\HUHUH KHOG D on Kilimanjaro.
meeting with all the guides at Kilimanjaro and asked,
“Who is that brave guide I have been hearing about?” ³-RKQ RSHUDWHG IURP .LER +RWHO ZKLFK XVHG WR EH WKH
And the guide in question happened to be ‘Emmanuel RI¿FLDOEDVHEXWDVPRUHSRUWHUVFRQWLQXHGWREHUHFUXLWHG
Petro Minja.’
and all opting to operate from Kibo, I decided to change
“I still have the scars where the heavy torch bruised my
ribs as I struggled to climb with it over 5000 metres onto
the peak,” remarks Minja.
%RUQ RQ -XO\ 0LQMD RQO\ PDQDJHG WR VFKRRO
up to Standard Six. “In the old days children from poor
families never made it to secondary level and in fact
among the fruits of independence is that nowadays
education can be attained by everybody whether rich or
poor,” he said.
base and started working from Marangu Hotel,” said
Minja.
Come 1961 and Tanganyika got its independence from
WKH%ULWLVK7KHQHZJRYHUQPHQWXQGHU0ZDOLPX-XOLXV
1\HUHUH GHFLGHG WR HUHFW ERWK WKH QHZ QDWLRQ¶V ÀDJ
and the Freedom (Uhuru) Torch on the peak of Mount
Kilimanjaro to mark the occasion. Mwalimu himself led
'URSSLQJRXWRIVFKRROPHDQWKHKDGWR¿QGDMREDQG
a delegation to Moshi.
after months of loitering his uncle came to his rescue;
³0U -RKQ /DXZR ZDV DQ H[SHUW PRXQWDLQ JXLGH DQG D
brother to my mother. Now coincidentally, Minja happens “I was chosen to carry the torch onto the Mountain
Summit with clear instructions from Nyerere himself,”
said Minja.
“I was chosen to carry the torch
onto the Mountain Summit with
clear instructions from Nyerere
himself,”
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What very few people know is that taking the Torch to
the top of Africa’s highest peak was also meant to test
Tanganyika’s independence because according to Minja
Nyerere had stated; “Carry this Torch up there, if you slip
and fall and the torch gets broken then it will mean our
independence is either immature or dubious!”
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0U(PPDQXHO0LQMDOHIWGXULQJKLVLQWHUYLHZZLWKWKH(GLWRURI7$1$3$7RGD\0U3DVFDO6KHOXWHWH
³3HRSOHXVHGWR¿JKWHDFKRWKHUVRPHWLPHVIRUQRJRRG
reason, insults were the order of the day and arrogance
¿OOHGWKHDWPRVSKHUH´KHVDLG³1RZDGD\VSHRSOHKDYH
mellowed, they respect each other, no cases of violence
and there has never been a more peaceful state than
Tanzania.”
Minja then realized the great responsibility placed on his
shoulders; “I spent the night praying to God that instead
of leting the Torch to be broken at least my legs should
break in case of a fall,” he recalls.
The ascent to the summit of the mountain was rough and
tough as the path was wet, muddy and slippery and the
torch kept getting heavier, unpredictable and potentially
dangerous in the falling rain. Minja recalls struggling
holding it in place as he balanced his way to the summit.
And in the night of Saturday, December 9, 1961 the torch
arrived safely on top of Kilimanjaro; “We had a walkietalkie which started to count down minutes to midnight
and a voice from the machine told us; “Celebrate now it
is midnight and the country is free!”
And, of course, unlike his days of segregation that
hindered him from pursuing further studies, nowadays
even poor people can access not only secondary level
but the highest institutions of learning, thanks to the
country’s independence.
Things have also changed on the mountain itself, trekking
routes have been well paved, the porters’ quarters
modernized with gas stoves, good beds and proper toilet
facilities; “In the past we used to sleep on the grass
Cheers followed as Lieutenant Nyirenda hoisted both the DQG FRRNHG XVLQJ ¿UHZRRG´ VDLG 0LQMD +H ODXGHG
WRUFKDQGQDWLRQDOÀDJRQWKHSHDNRI0RXQW.LOLPDQMDUR the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) for improving
signaling a new dawn, a new country and new day.
services for both the climbers, guides and porters.
Many things have come and passed since that historical
night. Minja recalls that before independence Tanganyika
was a country of vulgar, uncivilized people who were
harsh to each other and horrible to strangers.
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But Minja (81), who makes the other side of the story,
can he still make it to the top? “I will be among the 200
people who are to trek to the summit to mark 50 years of
independence,” he vows.
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Humours
Doctor Jokes
Patient: I’m in a hospital! Why am I in here?
Doctor: You’ve had an accident involving a bus.
Patient: What happened?
'RFWRU:HOO,¶YHJRWVRPHJRRGQHZVDQGVRPHEDGQHZV:KLFKZRXOG\RXOLNHWRKHDU¿UVW"
3DWLHQW*LYHPHWKHEDGQHZV¿UVW
Doctor: Your legs were injured so badly that we had to amputate both of them.
Patient: That’s terrible! What’s the good news?
Doctor: There’s a guy in the next ward who made a very good offer on your slippers.
Nigerian Police
A Nigerian policeman arrested a man urinating at a place clearly marked
³'RQRWXULQDWHKHUH¿QH1´
The offender gives the policeman a N1000 note,
The policeman turned around and said ‘urinate again, I don’t have change...’
Do Police Ofﬁcers Read The Bible?
8SRQEHLQJVWRSSHGE\DWUDI¿FRI¿FHURQD¿FWLWLRXVGULYLQJYLRODWLRQD3DVWRUVHQVLQJWURXEOHHYHQ
when he knew he had committed no offence, yelled back: “I am a pastor not a thief”
7KHRI¿FHUUHSOLHG³3OHDVHOHDYHWKDWSDVWRUWKLQJ,QDQ\FDVHLI\RXDUHLQGHHGDSDVWRUWKHQ\RXPXVW
have a Bible in your car. Bring it.” The Pastor speedily brought out his Bible to prove his honesty.”Please
read Matthew 5:25-26 to me.” Said the police man.
Incredulously, Pastor opened to the recommended passage and read: “Settle matters quickly with your
adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you
RYHUWRDMXGJHDQGWKHMXGJHPD\KDQG\RXRYHUWRWKHRI¿FHUDQG\RXPD\EHWKURZQLQWRSULVRQ,WHOO
you the truth; you will not get out until you have paid the last penny”
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I
The perplexed man of God “QUIETLY” made an “offering” of some shillings to his newly found
“preacher”.
7KH2I¿FHUFROOHFWHGKLV³%DR´DQGVDLGWRWKHSDVWRU³(QGRIVHUYLFHJR
in peace and argue no more.”
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PARKS CONTACTS
Chief Park Warden
Udzungwa National Park
P.O.Box 99 - MANG’ULA
Tel: 0232620224 Fax: 0232620293
[email protected]
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Rubondo Island National Park
P.O. Box 111, GEITA
Ikome Gate Tel: 0282520720
[email protected]
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Saadani National Park
P.O.Box 133
Pangani
Mob: 0713340776
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Mahale Mountains National Park
P.O.Box 1374 - KIGOMA
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Kitulo National Park
P.O.Box 1965
MBEYA
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Mikumi National Park
P.O.Box 62
Mikumi – Morogoro
Tel: 0232620498
Fax: 0232620441
[email protected]
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Chief Park Warden
Ruaha National Park
P.O.Box 369 - IRINGA
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Mkomazi National Park
P.O.Box 41
SAME
Chief Park Warden
Katavi National Park
P.O.Box 89
Mpanda Fax: 0252820352/213
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
I
Chief Park Warden
Kilimanjaro National Park
P.O.Box 96 - MARANGU
Tel: 2552756605/2 Fax: 2756606
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Arusha National Park
P.O. Box 3134 - ARUSHA
Tel: 2553995 Fax: 2553696/2553854
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
H
Chief Park Warden
Lake Manyara National Park
P.O.Box 12 - MTO WA MBU
Tel: 027 2539112 Fax: 2539271
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Saanane Island
P.O.Box 11775 - MWANZA
Tel: 028-2540713
[email protected]
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Chief Park Warden
Tarangire National Park
P.O.Box 3134 - ARUSHA
Tel: 027 2531280/81 Fax: 2530246
[email protected]
Chief Park Warden
Gombe National Park
P.O.Box 185 - KIGOMA
[email protected]
H
Chief Park Warden
Serengeti National Park
P.O.Box 3134 - ARUSHA
Tel: 028 2621515
Fax: 028 26211672
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
NZANIA
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35

TANAPA TODAY

Transcription

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