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Lesser Flamingo
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Updated 3rdDecember 2008

BirdLife International welcomes the withdrawal of the current, inadequate and now inappropriate ESIA. We also call for a complete withdrawal of the project. We will continue to oppose any development at Lake Natron that risks endangering the Lesser Flamingo and the integrity of the Lake Natron ecosystem as a whole on which so many local livelihoods depend.

Lake Natron Resources Limited, a company jointly owned by the Government of Tanzania and TATA Chemicals Limited of Mumbai, India, proposes to develop a facility at Lake Natron to extract and process soda ash. As this proposal stands, it has the potential to damage or destroy the East African Lesser Flamingo population through disrupting the birds’ breeding at Lake Natron.

To nest successfully, Lesser Flamingos require very specific conditions. Lake Natron, but no other site, provides these. The proposed plant poses major risks to the Lesser Flamingos from disturbance (including increased populations of nest predators) and changes in the water balance and chemistry of the lake. Soda ash mining also threatens the tourism industry throughout East Africa and the livelihoods of the local people who depend on the lake basin for their sustenance.

These risks are so serious that BirdLife International's view is that the plant must not be built.

BirdLife International and several other institutions are spearheading an advocacy campaign to save the Lesser Flamingos and maintain the integrity of Lake Natron (see BirdLife’s position on Lake Natron).

Ken Mwathe

Kim IL Kim Hong IL with his ‘Save Natron flamingos” poster at Ramsar COP10.
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Key milestones in the Lake Natron advocacy campaign are outlined below:

Between 28^th October to 4^th November 2008, the 10^th Meeting of the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar COP10) took place in Changwon, South Korea. Many significant developments related to Lake Natron took place, among them a statement by the Government of Tanzania highlighting the importance of the Lake to the country's economy. The Environment Minister described Natron as "Flamingo's birthplace" during the launch of "Crimson Wings" a Disney Nature Film on flamingos. During Ramsar COP10 the BirdLife team comprising of Richard Grimmett (BirdLife International), Achilles Byaruhanga (Nature Uganda / BirdLife in Uganda) and Ken Mwathe (BirdLife Africa Secretariat) held consultations with Dr Buriani and discussed Lake Natron. The conference also passed a resolution asking the government to file a report indicating the extent to which the Ramsar Advisory Mission recommendations had been implemented. Lake Natron also featured prominently at the BirdLife International exhibition booth where a poster and brochures were distributed. (Click to read the full story).
When Kim IL Kim Hong IL - the young Editor of the children Magazine Eco-generation - visited the BirdLife booth at the COP10 Ramsar conference he was so touched by the story of Natron flamingos that he decided to mount his own mini campaign. He drew quite some attention with his small poster written ‘Save Natron flamingos”. BirdLife believes Kim represents the future generation, whose voices should be heard.
Between 13^th and 18^th October 2008, Ken Mwathe attended the Horn of Africa Environment Centre and Network Meeting in Djibouti and presents a paper on Lake Natron titled "The role of advocacy in saving threatened ecosystems and species: the case of Lake Natron flamingos". During this period seven new institutions joined the Lake Natron Consultative Group raising the number to 41.
In September 2008 the report of the Ramsar Advisory Mission (RAM) on Lake Natron, Tanzania was officially released. The RAM which took place on 17^th to 29^th February 2008 was to provide advice to the Government of Tanzania concerning the wise use and future management of the Lake Natron Basin Ramsar Site, with particular reference to the proposed development of a soda ash facility that would abstract liquid brine from Lake Natron. Among other things, the report called for the withdrwal of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, the development of an over-arching plan for Lake Natron and the establishment of a regional cross border conservation project linking Tanzania with Kenya. The full report can be viewed here.
In September 2008, the 12^th Pan African Ornithological Congress meeting in South Africa passed a resolution urging the Government of Tanzania to protect Lake Natron as the world's most important Lesser Flamingo breeding site. The 250 scientists from all over the world asked the government to consider the disruption the proposed soda ash mining is likely to cause on the breeding of this highly sensitive species. (Click to read the full story).
On 26^th August 2008 a Consultant was engaged by BirdLife International, the RSPB (BirdLife in UK), and WCST (BirdLife in Tanzania) to carry out a Cost Benefit Analysis of conserving the resources of Lake Natron against soda ash development. The consultant who is a Tanzanian professor from one of the local universities will carry out the study by interviewing interested and affected parties at local, national and regional levels. He will also make a field visit to Lake Natron to carry out the assessment. Critically, the consultant will take the views from the investor (Tata Chemicals Ltd and National Development Corporation) and will also interview key government officials. At the end of the study a stakeholder meeting will be held to give a critical analysis of the results.

On 6^th August 2008 two staff from BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat, Julius Arinaitwe and Ken Mwathe joined a team of Tanzania’s Wildlife Division in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to discuss the development of Lesser Flamingo Action Plan (LFAP). The LFAP would be crafted within the framework of a Integrated Management Plan for Lake Natron.
On 10^th July 2008 The Lake Natron Consultative Group issued a comprehensive statement faulting NDC’s position on Lake Natron. The Group, which BirdLife International Africa Partnership is part of maintained that shifting the location of the project could not mitigate the possible negative impacts on Lesser Flamingos and would cause more damage to the landscape through the factory’s extended ecological footprint. (Click to download the Lake Natron Consulatative Group Media Statement; Word 46 MB).
On June 22^nd 2008, The National Development Corporation, Tata Chemicals Ltd partner in Tanzania released a press statement saying it was keen to proceed with the soda ash project. NDC supported the proposed project claiming it would not be harmful to Lesser Flamingos and would bring many benefits to the people. NDC blamed the woes currently facing the proposed project to the sustained campaigns by local and international organisations to have the project stopped.

On 19^th June 2008, a team from Lake Natron Consultative Group was invited to East African Parliament headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, to brief the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Tourism on the Lake Natron issue. The team comprised of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania, Ilkisongo Pastoralist Initiatives, BirdLife International and Journalists Environment Action Team. The team had a fruitful 1 and ½ engagement with the Members of Parliament. Two submissions were made: that the House passes the bill on the Management of Natural Resources in East Africa and that the Lake Natron issue be debated upon. Both these requests were granted.
On 2^nd June 2008, the national Development Corporation, Tata Chemicals Ltd partner in Tanzania, announced that the soda ash plant was going ahead. The Managing Director enumerated the benefits of the project and said the site had been relocated in response to concerns by stakeholders. This statement however, did not mention Tata Chemicals withdrawal of the original project proposal.
On 22^nd May 2008, Tata Chemicals Ltd officially withdraws the soda ash project as originally conceptualised. This was contained in a statement released to the Hindustan Times of India. In withdrawing the project, the Tata Managing Director was said:

“The Company is not in a position to take a view with regard to resumption ‘til it has a chance to examine the final approved Ramsar Management Plan currently under preparation for Lake Natron.” The Hindustan Times story titled Green Groups halt Tata Plant in Tanzania also quoted Mr Khusrokhan saying, “…the original Environment and Social Impact Assessment….. should be treated as withdrawn.”

On 14^th May 2008, a team from BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat, Lake Natron consultative Group, Nature Kenya and Youth for Conservation held a meeting with the Speaker and the Clerk of the East African Parliament. The team requested the Speaker for an opportunity to make a presentation to the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Tourism. The Speaker agreed and pointed out that he was in the process of forging stronger links between Parliament and civil society.
On 5^th May 2008 The Group held an international press conference at Hotel Continental Nairobi and renewed the advocacy campaign for Lake Natron. Subsequently there was extensive press coverage in the local and international media. Notable were: a live interview by Ken Mwathe, The Group’s Coordinator, with Kenya’s NTV on 6^th May and prominent stories by The Independent (UK) and Reuters. Many local media houses in East Africa also ran supportive stories.

Ken Mwathe

A Team from BirdLife International and Lake Natron Consultative Group address a leaders sensitisation meeting at Engare Sero Village at Lake Natron.
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On 1^st May 2008 the new Environment Minister (Dr Matilda Burhani) announces that the government had discarded the ESIA report and would await fresh studies by the investor. However she stated that the new studies must be preceded by the development of an Integrated Management Plan for Lake Natron Basin Ramsar site.
On 30^th April 2008 the World Bank organised a stakeholder meeting in Dar es Salaam in which the new project manager for Tata Chemicals Ltd announces that they had asked the government to withdraw the ESIA report they submitted last year for review. Mr Rahul Singh said the investor will move to a new site 32 kms away and would carry out fresh studies
On Wednesday, April 29, 2008 Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) had an audience with the Minister for Environment, Dr Batilda Burhani, during which they briefed on their activities and discussed about Lake Natron. JET commended her for visting Lake Natron and replying promptly to the letters sent to her by stakeholders. They also pointed out that the issue had taken too long and stakehorders wanted to know the government's decision. She explained that the government is aware of the concern by stakeholders but some processes are yet to be completed before the government could make any decision.
On 7^th April the Consultative Group wrote a similar letter to Dr Burhani presenting a strong case for the project to be rejected based on social, economic and ecological considerations.
On 4^th April a Team of Tanzanian MPs who sit in the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment were taken on a tour of Lake Natron. The visit was organised by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST). The MPs had several meetings with local community, with one meeting at Engare Sero Village being attended by more than 100 people who were strongly opposed to soda ash mining. At the end of the tour the MPs acknowledged the serious impacts of soda ash mining and some pledged to oppose it.
In March 2008, BirdLife International wrote to the new Minster for Environment in the Vice President’s Office (Dr Matilda Salha Burhani) urging her to reject the proposed project. She sent a reply saying whatever decision the government makes it will not contravene Ramsar, CBD and other conventions.
On 13 March 2008, Lake Natron Resources Ltd wrote formally to NEMC to withdraw the current ESIA from consideration. The letter stated that LNRL would commission a new ESIA for the new proposed site(s) and associated infrastructure. LNRL called on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism first to prepare an Integrated Ramsar Management Plan to inform the ESIA.
Between 17^th and 29^th February 2008, the Ramsar Secretariat sent an Advisory Mission to Tanzania to advise the government on the long term conservation of Lake Natron vis-a vis the proposed soda ash mining. The report from the mission is still pending.
During the public hearing on 23 January, the National Development Corporation unexpectedly presented revised plans for the soda ash plant. Key changes included a shift in the site of the proposed plant from Wosi Wosi to Kitumbeine, more than 32 km away. These major changes should require a new ESIA.

Serah Munguti

An international Press Conference on Lake Natron underway in Nairobi, 5th May 2008.
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On 23^rd January 2008, NEMC held a public hearing on the EIA of the proposed project in Dar es Salaam. During the hearing, strong opposition to the project was expressed; with over 90% of the members of the public present rejecting the project. The strongest opposition came from a delegation of 12 community members who traveled from villages surrounding Lake Natron. BirdLife International and the Lake Natron Consultative Group presented verbal and written submissions opposing the development. The RSPB also presented the opposition of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators. There was wide media coverage of the public hearing in Tanzania with most of the coverage being supportive of BirdLife International’s, The Group’s and RSPB’s positions.
On 17^th January 2008, WCST (BirdLife in Tanzania) supported by BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) made a presentation to the Tanzanian Parliamentary Committee on the Environment outlining the case against the project.
On 2^nd November 2007, the Technical Advisory Committee of the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) of Tanzania declined to accept the EIA for the soda ash project at a meeting in Dar Es Salaam. WCST (BirdLife in Tanzania) made a detailed critique of the EIA to the meeting and presented the BirdLife International position which requested the project to be halted on the basis of the precautionary principle.
Also in October 2007, BirdLife International initiated a global campaign to help save Lake Natron. Dubbed “Think Pink, Save Lesser Flamingos, the campaign is aimed at drawing the world’s attention to the threat that the species faces if the soda ash plant is built. As part of the Think Pink Campaign, conservation organizations, eminent conservationists, flamingo experts and concerned individuals from more than 40 countries across the world have written (and continue to write) to the Tanzanian government protesting at the project plans. BirdLife International puts out regular global press releases on the campaign and considerable media interest has been generated.
In October 2007, BirdLife partners from 23 African countries signed a petition against the soda project and sent it to the Tanzanian Government.
In July 2007, representatives of WCST, BirdLife International and the Group attended the EIA stakeholder’s meeting in Dar es Salaam and raised strong objections to the project.
The Group carries out an intensive awareness campaign through the media and initiated a petition against the soda ash plant that has now been signed by over 2,000 individuals across the globe. The Group also holds regular consultations and writes letters to senior government officials in East Africa and to Tata Chemicals Ltd, seeking support to have the project stopped. A regular bulletin on developments around Lake Natron is maintained and sent to over 500 institutions and individuals across the globe
In early 2007, several institutions in Eastern Africa formed the Lake Natron Consultative Group to raise awareness on the threats that face Lake Natron and the Lesser Flamingos. The group now numbers 33 institutions covering, east, central and southern Africa as well as North America and its coordinator is hosted by the BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat. Email: Ken.Mwathe@birdlife.or.ke
Following a scoping notice published on 1^st November 2006 by the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) of Tanzania, WCST (BirdLife in Tanzania) made a submission to NEMC which stated that “in the eyes of conservationists, the implementation of this project will result in an ecosystem catastrophe in the long run”. Since that initial submission, WCST has maintained constant opposition to the project plans, including putting out press releases, radio interviews and lobbying and advising government officials.

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