“This new development in conservation seems to be paying dividends because cases of poaching and illegal harvesting of resources have significantly dropped,” said Moronda Moronda, Assistant Commissioner of Conservation at SENAPA.
According to Moronda, the participatory approach in conservation not only reduces wildlife poaching and illegal logging but also sees various development projects mushrooming in the villages surrounding the expansive park.
“Local residents now come up with their own development initiatives then the trustees of the Tanzania National Parks, in conjunction with international agencies who are partners in conservation, make the villagers’ dreams come true through funding and supervision of the projects,” he said.
Speaking at Fort Ikoma Station, at the weekend, Moronda said that there are 35 major development projects being undertaken in the five districts that directly or indirectly border the SENAPA, namely Tarime, Bariadi, Bunda, Itilima and Serengeti.
“The projects include health, education, water and sanitation as well as infrastructure development,” said Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) conservation officer Robert Masobeji, who is in charge of Community Outreach Department.
Implemented under the Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project (SEDCP) to the tune of 24.34 million euros, the community projects are being financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the German Development Bank (KfW).
“It is encouraging to see that the villagers realize the importance of conservation efforts because they are now benefiting from the initiatives,” said Ally Ligalawike, acting Serengeti District Executive Director,.
Ligalawike expressed appreciation to the management of the national park for assisting the government in speeding up development projects in rural areas.
Among the projects valued at 67.4bn/- include Rehabilitation of Rural Infrastructure in Serengeti District (SDC) Output 2 which involves the improvement of the 13 kilometers long Park Nyigoti –Nyichoka feeder road, the construction of Tabora B’ bridge along the Bisarara-Nyamakendo road and the Tamkeri Bridge on the Mbalibali-Machochwe road.
Other projects currently implemented under the Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project in Mara Region include the construction of teachers’ quarters at Kazi and Kebosongo Primary Schools.
There is also construction of two classrooms at Kisangura Primary School as well as a modern dormitory for girl at Manchira Secondary School and a dispensary at Bokore Village.
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