Taking advantage of the natural beauty of this region and sensitive use of the lake for tourism will provide income for the local community and ensure the survival of the fragile and beautiful wildlife that it supports. It burned their eyes and skin, but they managed to drag themselves ashore. Everyone survived the crash but they were in the water unprotected. WCST has called for the support of stakeholders and governments in the development of a small-scale tourism to enable the Natron community generate a sustainable income. In 2007, a helicopter carrying a group of wildlife videographers wishing to get footage of the flamingos crashed into the lake. Such a development could wipe out one of the highlights of East Africa's natural heritage and drive the East African Lesser flamingo to extinction. Lesser Flamingos are very sensitive to disturbance and the implementation of a soda ash extraction plant in the area would seriously threaten their survival. World Land Trust partner, The Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST) proposed instead the development of an environmentally-sensitive tourism industry. In October, the community claimed their stand remains. In 2008, a community delegation from Lake Natron rejected this proposal. Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania and the only known breeding ground for 2.5 million endangered Lesser Flamingos ( Phoeniconaias minor).īack in 2007, a multinational company began making plans to develop a soda extraction plant that would use the sodium carbonate in the production of washing powder for export. Villagers living around Lake Natron in Tanzania have reaffirmed their pledge to protect 'their' lake from the development of an environmentally destructive soda ash extraction plant on its shores. Photo by hansco used under Creative Commons Licence. Click on the image to see a larger version. Flamingos at Lake Natron, threatened by the proposed soda extraction development.
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