The above map shows the Stieglers Gorge Dam on the Rufigi River in the Selous. This map puts it in context...it is only 60 miles long. I believe it could actually be a huge benefit to the GR.

I believe some of the issues are the potential impact on the Rufiji Delta area and its fisheries as well as the massive influx of labourers that will surely come during the building process, not to mention escalated poaching.

From what I've been able to read the impact on the Selous as well as downstream is not really worth it.

They've been considering the project since colonial times. I'll bet money changed hands to suddenly accelerate the process.

Also, the Selous is a World Heritage Sight and would need to be delisted as such before the project can start.

Other areas of the Selous has rich deposits of uranium (if I recall correctly). This project will surely open the door to those as well.

I am not sure poaching could get any worse. Ele have been decimated there...rhino gone.

I have been saying for a while that it may be rather beautiful. Look at how wildlife has lasted around Lake Kariba in Zim - especially on Zim side where shores are largely allocated to wildlife, either hunting or parks.

Of course there will be some impact on the corals etc. and the sea off the actual delta, but let me assure all that there has already been plenty of impact on that coast.

None of those Selous blocks (either hunting or photographic) are particularly productive from a dollar perspective to Tanzania, and the new shoreline could make them into extremely attractive places to be in the bush...

Plus it is Tanzania's land and river...

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am not sure poaching could get any worse. Ele have been decimated there...rhino gone.

You obviously have no idea what destruction comes with the Chines!

If it walks, crawls, swims or flies, the bloody Chinks will eat it!

I can well see the pros and cons but with the poaching as bad as it has been in the Selous...I think the dam might be a net gain for the reserve.

Lodges along the lake might improve surveillance. Tiger fishing will become world class. Might provide some safe havens for ele. Maybe even rhino could be reintroduced around lake where they could be monitored.

The delta is an issue I hadn’t given much thought I will admit.

Left the route it’s going...Selous will eventually be baron anyway.

I could see where it has its positives.

However, Tanzania actively involved itself in making the Selous a heritage site with all it entailed. Adding a huge impoundment will change the ecology of the area. Also, if it becomes a more desired location, there will be settlements by it.

I see this as a change in character to the area. It may improve utilization, but that is somewhat contrary to the purpose of founding the Selous GR.

As to Rhino, I certainly didn’t see one, but we did see a rhino track in dried out mud (meaning it was at least from the preceding wet season) back in 2015. There was a substantial anti poaching presence in the area as well. Could there be some? Sure, but I doubt a sustainable population.

I have my serious doubts that a hydroelectric impoundment is going to do anything positive for Tanzania other than enrich a few politicians.

First let me say that I am the biggest culprit of my following accusation. I live in the country pretending the metroplex (DFW) is not encroaching on all of North Central Texas. I even built our newest equine hospital on a rural stretch of I-35.

I long for the days of old Africa. I can even remember when one had to worry about a black rhino charge in Chewore.

That said...hoping and pretending old Africa is going to stay the same is not a conservation strategy.

Looking at likely civilization advances and trying to mitigate the negatives while exploiting the positives is the way forward.

If TZ moves forward with this dam...instead of lamenting the change in the Selous...we must look for positives and spend our energy advancing them with wildlife to reap the bounty.

Will animals have to be rescued from isolated islands formed from the rising lake waters before those islands disappear under the rising waters as has happened with other massive lake projects?

Like JTHunt said above...Kariba has been a boon to wildlife.

quote:

If TZ moves forward with this dam...instead of lamenting the change in the Selous...we must look for positives and spend our energy advancing them with wildlife to reap the bounty.

Lane,

There is no "IF" - it is happening; deforestation is in full swing on the hunting side of the Selous with main access road to the project site cutting straight through at least 3 established concessions.

We on the ground do not see how the dam will be of benefit to the fauna as the entire damned area will become an extended village with land also to be utilized for farming in its varied forms. Poaching of game will be part and parcel of daily life.
As JTHunt said in his post: "Plus it is Tanzania's land and river..." and it is the government's decision to put development first and foremost, whether it is detrimental to the flora and fauna or not.

Hi Fulvio,
I wish it were 1980 and we could relive the last 40 years and do things a bit different...but as the saying goes: If wishes were fishes—we’d have a big fry.

By if, I meant actually damn the river...projects in Africa have been known to get put on the back burner from time-to-time.

But yes, that is the point of the post. Since it IS happening, we should be looking at ways to mitigate the losses and accentuate the positives.

PS:
The lake is entirely surrounded by the GR. The deforestation is only on the lake bed area which will be flooded forever...they did exactly the same thing with Kariba. There is no possibility for habitation (unless they change the law which I doubt).

It’s governed by the same rationale as hunting...use it or lose it.