Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
NEWSPAPERS in both Kenya and Tanzania have reported environmentalists in the region as having voiced concern over the renewed plan by private investors to construct a soda ash plant at Lake Natron.
They are bitterly arguing that the project would adversely affect the breeding site of the flamingos.
The environmentalists and conservationist claim that Tanzania government had shelved the construction of the plant in 2009 after it emerged that Lake Natron was the breeding site for million of lesser flamingos in East Africa.
Situated close to the border of Kenya and Tanzania, but most part of it right inside the Tanzanian territory, the volcanic lake is not far away from Kenya’s Lake Magadi, which is the site of intensive mining of salt and soda ash, Lake Natron is also an important tourist attraction site.
Wetlands International {WI} and Kenya Wildlife Services {KWS} want the multimillion dollar project halted as it would endanger the population of the Lesser Flamingos.
In a statement, WI expressed shock over on the renewed plans to continue with the project despite the vehement opposition from environmentalists and conservationists locally and the world over.
“The plans to mine at this very precious, but vulnerable lake conflicts with the government’s international commitment and could cause the loss of one of Africa’s most important wetlands of international importance, being the only breeding site of the Lesser Flamingos, “read the statement in part.
The statement stated that there have been recent announcement of the representatives of the Tanzanian government that the project would go ahead regardless of the objections.
Kenya is vehemently opposed to the project, Dr James Njogu, the head of the Conventions at the KWS said the project would affect between two and three million flamingos that breed at Lake Natron.
“Flaming migrate from various lakes in Kenya to breed at Lake Natron. Any disturbance on the lake would affect the hydrology of the lake by either dilution or pollution.”
“The Tanzania government had suggested having the plant at a distance place from the lake, but I am not sure whether they did so,” said Dr Njogu.
According to Wetlands International about 75 per cent of the Lesser Flamingo in East Africa breed at Lake Natron which is a Ramset Site.
The project was abandoned in 2008 due to the concern from the Tanzania’s National Environmental Management Council {NEMC} that the mining of soda ash in the area would adversely affect the ecology of the lake Natron and its highly importance biodiversity.
In the same year, Ramset Advisory Mission recommended that the Tanzanian government should suspend the Soda Ash project and consider completing the development of the Tanzania Wetland Strategy and other policy framework before taking any decision on the Sod ash project.
Ends