German hands over buildings for Serengeti eco-system

Fort Ikoma. The German government has handed over office and resident buildings to the Tanzanian government to accommodate wildlife unit staff in the Serengeti National Park.

The buildings were handed over by the German Ambassador in Tanzania, Dr Detlef Wächter, to Prof Jumanne Maghembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism.

The donation comes in the framework of the Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project, which is financed by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and implemented by Tanzania National Parks.

Additional financing and implementation support is provided by Frankfurt Zoological Society.

“These new buildings greatly strengthen the park authorities’ presence in the Serengeti and we appreciate this contribution of our German partners to the protection of the ecosystem,” said Minister Maghembe.

Serengeti National Park has moved most staff out of the National Park to reduce the human presence in the natural landscape. The new houses are located in Fort Ikoma on the north-western boundary of the National Park.

“Tanzania and Germany can look back on a long and successful partnership in protecting the Serengeti. These new buildings are another manifestation of our commitment to further strengthen this partnership and to conserve this ecosystem,” said the German Ambassador.

Germany made funding available through its development bank KfW in the context of the ‘Serengeti Ecosystem Development and Conservation Project’ (SEDCP), which has a total volume of 24 million euros (Sh58 billion).

Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) is implementing the project with support from Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and in close collaboration with the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Districts.