An environmental project with a twist!!

THE EXPANDING POPULATION BOMB IN TANZANIA (50+ MILLION) HAS SPREAD EAST IN THE POPULATION CORRIDOR FROM LAKE VICTORIA TO THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK. THIS NATURAL DEMOGRAPHIC IS NOW RESULTING IN INCREASING POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE SERENGETI AS THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR THE PEOPLE.

AS IT STANDS RURAL VILLAGE COMMUNITIES ON THE BORDER GAIN LITTLE TO NO BENEFIT FROM THE WILD-LIFE THEY LIVE NEXT TO. THEY OBSERVE IN FRUSTRATION HOW THE MONEY FROM TOURISM FLOWS THROUGH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE SAFARI BUSINESS – YET WILD-LIFE DAMAGES THEIR CROPS AND AFFECTS THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR ABILITY TO SURVIVE.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN UNDERLYING PUSH FROM SOME SECTORS TO ALLOW CATTLE TO GRAZE AND PLANT CROPS IN THE NATIONAL PARK.

RECENTLY, DUE TO DROUGHT, ELEPHANT HERDS HAVE BEEN COMING OUT OF THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK AND DESTROYING VILLAGE CORN CROPS IN THE FIELD AND THEIR POST-HARVEST MUD BRICK GRANARIES.

THIS IS NOW ‘LEARNED ‘BULLDOZING BEHAVIOUR’ ON THE PART OF THE ELEPHANTS AND A CONSTANT PROBLEM.

THE CONTINUED ANNUAL ELEPHANT DESTRUCTION OF THE GRANARIES AND THE CONSUMPTION OF THEIR CONTENT CONTINUES TO GENERATE WILDLIFE INDUCED FAMINE ALONG THE SERENGETI BORDER - THE RESULTING ANGER DRIVES BUSH MEAT HUNTING AND WORSE THE CORRUPTION OF POACHING.

THE MBIRIKILLI PILOT PROJECT (PICTURED) IS NOW LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 4 VILLAGE PROJECT. MBIRIKILLI WAS ORIGINALLY SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB DARWIN NORTH AND HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE 2017. IT NOW ANNUALLY SAVES SOME 500 VILLAGER FAMILIES FROM THIS TYPE OF WILDLIFE INDUCED FAMINE.

IN SHORT A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOOD PROTECTION PROJECT THAT NOW DRIVES SUSTAINABLE VILLAGE OWNED BENEFITS.

THE BENEFITS INCLUDE CONSERVATION AS WILDLIFE HUNTING/POACHING IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DUE THE TRAINING OF FARMERS AS VOLUNTEER RANGERS. THEY NOW TEAM UP TO HERD THE ELEPHANT AND OTHER WILDLIFE BACK INTO THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.

FOOD PROTECTION HAS ENABLED A BOOST TO VILLAGE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH IMPROVEMENT OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL AND A WOMAN’S PROJECT IN FARMING GUINEAFOWL FOR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.

IMPROVED BEEHIVES NOW PROVIDE A SECONDARY LINE OF DEFENCE.

THIS OBJECTIVE WAS ACHIEVED BY THE SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF A STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINER. ELEPHANTS CANNOT BREAK INTO A STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINER…

SO THE PLANNING IS NOW FOR FOUR MORE SHIPPING CONTAINERS AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOOD PROTECTION PLATFORMS. THESE WILL NOW BE SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB DARWIN NORTH AND DELIVERED TO ADJACENT VILLAGE COMMUNES BORDERING THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.

Also Linking up with the local Rotary Club of Karatu Tanzania will now enable this project to now become a Rotary Australia World Community Service Program.

This innovative model combining Conservation with Humanitarianism was designed and developed by Rotarian Dan Baschiera.

Website: https://rotaryclubdarwinnorth.org.au/
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