Serengeti

A side effect of working tirelessly on a project is that it sticks with you - last year I spent some time doing research on a project related to the Serengeti highway planned construction. Although I'm not working on the project anymore, the cause stuck with me. It is a complicated situation - not as simple as "where do we build this road" - so as valuable information emerges, I will post it here.  More to come, obviously.

Samantha Stevens is filming a documentary "Whose Serengeti?" which will explore many of the complex issues related to the planned highway project. More information is available at her Kickstarter page (which was fully funded on June 29th!). UPDATE: Samantha finished filming and expects the documentary to be completed late June 2013.

This update from Serengeti Watch gives a brief status of the road construction and legal case status (June 14, 2012).

Stop the Serengeti Highway also put together a chronology of the Serengeti highway development (June 5, 2012).

October 2012 Update - the German government agreed to fund road construction and a feasibility study to support the Southern route (outside of the park), however the Tanzanian government has not committed to these funds and projects, nor have they indicated any stoppage in plans to build the Northern route (through the park). Theoretically, the Tanzanian government could move forward on both routes. In the meantime, a controversial deal to build a soda ash plant on Lake Natron and a separate land grab for a new Serengeti International Airport (funded by American "conservationist" and resort owner, Paul Tudor Jones) have complicated development matters in Western Tanzania, especially for the indigenous population. As I wrote above, this story is complicated. The plans for the airport appear to be moving ahead quickly so I am certain I will have another update soon.

December 2012 Update - The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) announced the lawsuit brought by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) and other environmental groups against the Tanzanian government over the Serengeti highway route will begin January 23, 2013. Unfortunately, the plans for the airport appear to be on track. As you might guess, I'll be tracking the trial as closely as possible.