In Tanzania’s largest wildlife conservation area was begun with the construction of a Mega-dam. He aims to improve the precarious power supply in the country significantly. However, conservationists are sounding the Alarm.
In the Selous reserve in southern Tanzania began last Saturday the construction of a controversial hydroelectric power plant. Energy Minister Medard Kalemani, said that the preparatory work had been completed – the two representative of the Egyptian companies could now take the construction of the dam on the Rufiji river in the attack. The government of the East African country wants to bring the project to the Expansion of power supply is crucial to progress. The plant is expected to double, with a capacity of 2.1 gigawatts of Tanzania’s energy production more than. The project has often been criticized, because it would mean a massive destruction of a nature reserve and world natural heritage. Not only that, but experts also doubt the usefulness of the dam.
In fact, the connection to the power grid, missing the people, especially in remote areas of Johannes Church gate by the WWF says in a DW interview. According to the United Nations development programme UNDP, only 16 percent of the population in rural areas access to electricity. Nevertheless, Church gate, do not believe that the construction of the mega dam above the Stiegler gorge, Tanzania’s energy problems can be solved. Originally this was not provided for in the national energy programme, so the Church gate: You have spoken in the opposite of the “need to diversify”, to ensure security of supply. According to the Church-gate assessment is needed urgently: “Because Tanzania is already in a very high degree of water supply and water management in the Rufiji river-dependent.” Upstream power plants already existed. As a result of climate change, droughts would, however, particularly in this Region more often, so the Church gate. As the nearly 100% dependence on the water management of a single river is not recommended.
Threatened several times – in the Selous national Park in southern Tanzania
Economic success is questionable
A mega-project will not solve Tanzania’s power supply problem. Christoph Hoffmann, the development policy spokesman of the FDP group in the Bundestag confirmed. Especially Tanzania have, first of all, a cable and network problem. If today, therefore, more electricity is produced, it can not be transported in the regions where it is needed. The economic success of the dam, one could speculate, at this stage, says Hoffmann. But the fact is that the dam already huge areas of forest had been cleared. In the current situation of the climate crisis, it was fatal, that “huge areas disappear in the forest, which would actually be able to CO2 save”.
Therefore, the FDP had called for a parliamentary debate in January to pair with more development aid for Tanzania on the waiver of the construction of the dam. The building project was criticized in the German Parliament across party lines. Ultimately, a request of the factions of the CDU/CSU and SPD was given instead. The Federal government will be requested to seek, together with the Tanzanian government Alternatives to the large-scale project, the Status of the wild reserve in question. The amendment proposed by the liberals was, however, referred to the Greens as paternalism. Also a suggestion that gas turbines as a transitional solution that was rejected: for another 50 years of fossil fuels would be burned, so the criticism of other members.
Germany supports endangered world heritage site
Funding unclear – is built
Hoffmann regrets this – according to him, the would have an Alternative proposal would have allowed the Tanzanian President to save his face, he would have ensured the power supply in the country yet. At the same time, the Liberal, you would have gained time, to a decentralised, sustainable electricity supply system. Hoffmann sees the dam as a sovereign decision of Tanzania. On the other hand, the Bundestag have decided to support the Selous game reserve-a UNESCO world natural heritage – financial. If Tanzania would destroy that now, would have to be adjusted as a consequence of the financial support. “Otherwise, it is Yes, in principle, also towards their own taxpayers implausible,” says Hoffmann: “You can not support what is being destroyed.”
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He has no great hopes that the construction can be stopped. Although the financing of the entire project is not secured yet – so far just 500 millions of US were raised-dollars. Estimates of the total costs between 3.9 and 10 billion US dollars. Hoffmann says, that it was not previously find out about who the donor at all. Because both the world Bank and the IMF had not granted any loans for the project. He suspected, however, that China could in the project to get in.
The Largest Wildlife Protection Area In Africa
John of the Church gates by the WWF says that the government of Tanzania, it is about creating facts: “The calculus of the government is, through the creation of facts a certain amount of pressure to build up.” The area would be deleted entirely from the list of world heritage, could be used to attract additional investors, because the Argument of the destruction of a world heritage from the table.
The Selous is the largest contiguous wildlife protected area, and a stunning diversity.
This world heritage site, the “Selous Game Reserve”, is considered to be the largest wildlife protection area in Africa. With over 50,000 square kilometers, it is larger than Switzerland. Because of its diverse plant and animal world to which it belongs, since 1982 a UNESCO world heritage site. Hippos, elephants, giraffes, lions, the endangered African wild dogs and more than 400 species of birds find a home here. Since 2014, the protection area is based on the organised poaching of the endangered animal on the Red list of world heritage in danger. Now, the Status could be due to the water power plant is discussed.
Serious consequences for nature and man
For the construction of the reservoir to future flooding needs to be released area of any Vegetation, explains the Church gate: “This is an area of over 1000 square kilometers – larger than the area of the Federal state of Berlin, and about as large as all the protection of Germany areas…” The impact would be fatal. This is because, with the reservoir at the same time roads and settlements in the Park would lead the whole Region to be industrialized in the middle of the protected area. But also outside of the reserve, down the river, you can expect serious consequences. The existing Floods would be no supply of the mangrove forests in the river Delta, with fresh water, and thus the coastal protection act. Also, the fishermen in the river Delta could lose out, if this drying.
Cooperation: Martina Schwikowski
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerPristine Wilderness
The “Selous Game Reserve” is one of the largest nature reserves in the world and the largest in all of Africa. The 50,000 square kilometers of Steppe and Savannah extend over several regions in the Southeast of Tanzania. As huge as the reserve is also the diversity of the animals that live here: hippos, elephants, giraffes, Buffalo, lions, crocodiles, cheetahs, antelopes and more than 400 bird species.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerColonial Past
Founded the reserve in 1896 by the German colonial power. After the Takeover by the United Kingdom, the area was enlarged and after Frederick Selous named, an English big-game hunter and an officer. He fell in the First world war and is buried in the Park. Because of its unique animal and plant world, the UNESCO declared the reserve in 1982 as a world heritage site.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerEndangered World Heritage
However, the UNESCO, and various conservation organizations to see the unique Ecosystem of the Selous is in danger: For the past three years, the reserve is therefore on the “red list” of threatened world heritage sites. And there it remains, for the time being also, it was the decision of the UNESCO is now – against the Protest of the Tanzanian government. These are the reasons:
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerDam in the middle of the protected area?
The Rufiji river is a lifeline of the Selous. Over 600 km, it meanders through the reserve and flows to the South of Dar-es-Salaam in the Indian ocean. In the future, the river should be used for the production of Electricity, because electricity is scarce in Tanzania. President Magufuli, announced recently, to a to the decades of planned dam “as fast as possible” build.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerA flooded area is bigger than Berlin
“That would be a major blow to nature,” criticized the environmental organization WWF. According to the plans, an almost 130 meters high and 700 meters wide, the dam should be drawn to the gorge in the so-called ‘Stiegler -‘ high. You will. the Rufiji to a thousand-square-mile lake damming Thus, an area would be flooded, which would be bigger than Berlin.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in danger“Industrialization of the Wilderness”
With the dam, roads, industrial plants and settlements would have to be built for workers in the middle of the protected area. The WWF fears that “the destruction of previously pristine Wilderness and one of the most important habitats to many endangered animal species”. The dam plans are also expected to prepare the German government a headache.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in danger18 million euros from Germany
To take a day before the announcement Magufulis, the dam-construction in the Selous Park in the attack, had been signed by his government and the German Ambassador in Tanzania, the “Selous Conservation and Development Program”, in short, Secad, under. The aim of the protection of the Park and its preservation as a UNESCO world heritage site. 18 million euros will pay for the project.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerUranium removal in the South
For criticism of the concessions granted to the Tanzania government for the exploration of Oil and gas Stocks and a uranium Mine at the southern edge of the Selous. In the upper reaches of the Rufiji, the radioactive Material to be flushed out of the Rock, the first holes started. Contaminated water could enter through the river in the Selous, warns the WWF, and thus into the ground water.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerThe poaching in the handle?
Of the criticism of the Tanzanian government wants to hear nothing. It instead refers to success in poaching control. Actually: There are some elephants and more in the Selous. Over 100,000 it used to be. However, between 1982 and 2014, it was poached in the Region so much, and ivory smuggling, the number of animals decreased by almost 90 percent.
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The Selous game reserve: Tanzania’s Paradise in dangerUnknown Beauty
The commercial big-game hunting is allowed in the Selous and a source of income for the reserve and many of the approximately 1.2 million people living like those children on the edge of the conservation area. For Safari-tourists some of the hunting-free areas in the North are accessible. However, the reserve attracts significantly fewer visitors than the Serengeti national Park – although it is three Times as large.