27/08/2018
Tanzania's
Selous Game Reserve, one of the last areas of untouched wilderness in the
world, could face permanent damage should construction of a proposed
hydroelectric dam go ahead. This important World Heritage Site contains
multiple ecosystems that support a myriad of animal species, including Malagasy Pond Heron, as well as Lions and African
Elephants.
In late
April, the Tanzanian government confirmed plans to clear an expansive swathe of
vegetation inside Selous, with a hydropower dam expected to be created.
However, this decision is in breach of Tanzanian environmental legislation, and
also goes against the World Heritage Committee position against dams with large
reservoirs being built on World Heritage Sites.
Selous is
an almost entirely undisturbed tract of wilderness roughly the size of
Switzerland, and the largely untouched habitat hosts a long list of species
typically associated with the savanna regions of Africa. The largest population
of African Buffalo on the continent is found on the reserve, and it is an
internationally important wintering site for Malagasy Pond Heron, which is
listed as Endangered by BirdLife International. This species is highly
threatened by a loss of habitat, and consequently the extensive wetlands of
Selous is a key refuge.
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