by James L.Laizer

World Bank tourism funding suspended, affecting southern circuit

Many Tanzanians received with sadness the news that the World Bank has potentially suspended financing intended to develop tourism in southern Tanzania. In September 2017, the World Bank launched the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) project through a US$ 150 million loan to Tanzania, with $ 100m already received. The objective of this project is to improve management of natural resources and tourism assets in priority areas of southern Tanzania and to increase access to livelihood activities for targeted communities. REGROW focuses on four national parks in southern Tanzania: Mikumi, Nyerere (formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve), Ruaha, and the Udzungwa Mountains.

The project has been helping the Tanzanian government develop these parks to increase tourism in the ‘Southern Circuit’ of the country, which is currently less visited compared to the world-famous safari attractions of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro in the north. A key objective of the project was to develop new and improved tourism products to expand the Circuit. Across these four priority parks, the project sought to increase the number of annual visitors from 98,504 in 2017 to 135,000 by 2025. It had four key components: first, strengthen management and improve infrastructure in priority Protected Areas; second, strengthen alternative livelihoods for targeted communities in proximity to the priority Protected Areas; third to strengthen landscape management and infrastructure investments in and upstream of the Ruaha national park; and fourth, on project management, institutional strengthening, quality assurance and control, and monitoring and evaluation.

The World Bank has suspended financing after allegations of human rights violations captured global and local headlines, including in the UK BBC and Guardian. These allegations stem from claims by the US-based Oakland Institute, which alleges documented abuses by Tanzanian rangers against villagers accused of encroaching in the Ruaha national park.

“The World Bank is deeply concerned about the allegations of abuse and injustice related to the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project in Tanzania,” said a World Bank spokesperson. “We have recently received information that suggests breaches of our policies in the implementation of the Regrow project. We have therefore decided to suspend further disbursement of funds with immediate effect.”

In response, the Tanzanian government spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi stated that the Government of Tanzania does not violate the rights of its citizens and such allegations are baseless. The government has further denied any abuses, including forced evictions, in connection with the national park expansion project. Matinyi asserts that anyone relocated because of the project would be accorded all their rights.

Tanzania was due to receive a further $50m of the REGROW funding, which is now in jeopardy. This funding is deemed important for tourism development not only in the southern part of the country, but in Tanzania in general. Whilst the allegations must be investigated and acted upon if they are proven, many view that suspending such a project will negatively impact the targeted population economically, restrict ongoing infrastructure development, affect conservation of biodiversity, and delay improvement of tourism assets in the Tanzania southern circuit – a region that is already underinvested in.

Drones to be used for forest conservation work in Tanzania
The Tanzania Forest Agency (TFA) is expanding its conservation toolkit with the addition of drones to protect its dwindling woodlands, which face pressure from various sources. “Drone technology is important because it will help us cover large areas more efficiently, allowing us to focus our vehicle and motorcycle patrols strategically,” said Dos Santos Salayo, TFA’s commissioner for conservation. The agency also announced the deployment of four new vehicles and nearly 40 motorcycles to further bolster its forest protection efforts.

“We are committed to enhancing the sector by equipping it with the necessary tools and expertise to drive positive outcomes in forest conservation,” said Angellah Kairuki, Tanzania’s minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, during the equipment unveiling ceremony.

Kairuki emphasized the importance of investing in various defense technologies due to the vastness of forest areas, noting that relying solely on traditional ground patrols won’t suffice in addressing illegal activities within the reserves. She highlighted the advantages of drones for surveillance and monitoring over large and sometimes inaccessible terrains, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts in protecting forest reserves. “The TFS should consider investing in technologies like satellite imagery to align with global standards,” she added.

Tanzania has 45.7 million hectares of forests, covering about 40% of the country. This represents a significant decline from 61% in 2000, according to the World Bank. Tanzania loses about 400,000 hectares of forest each year – twice the global average deforestation rate. The TFA drones will expand Tanzania’s capacity to track illegal activities in the forests and monitor less accessible areas, allowing for more effective patrol deployment, Kairuki said. This initiative builds on the country’s 2016 decision to use drones to monitor its Ngorogoro Conservation Area for poachers and to deter elephants from the protected area.

Tanzania joins other African nations like Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, and Namibia in utilizing drones for forest monitoring. Kenya and Madagascar also employ drones for reforestation efforts. Additionally, drones can deploy sensors within forests to help monitor tree health.

Tanzania collaborates with the environmental NGO Trees for the Future as part of a consortium of African countries, mostly in East Africa. This partnership utilizes drones to evaluate tree coverage, aiding farmers in protecting the health of their farmland and preventing erosion. According to Kairuki, illegal charcoal and firewood collection, illegal mining, livestock grazing, and agriculture are major threats to Tanzania’s forests.

Tanzania’s Tourism Sector Sets Records
Tanzania’s tourism industry experienced a significant rebound last year, with tourist arrivals increasing by 24.3% to a record high of 1.8 million visitors, according to the Bank of Tanzania. Tourism remains Tanzania’s top foreign exchange earner, generating $3.37 billion in revenue in 2023. This success was followed by gold exports, which increased by seven percent to $3 billion, and transportation earnings, which surged by almost 30 percent to $2.4 billion. The Bank of Tanzania’s (BoT) monthly economic review for January indicates that service receipts reached $6,281m up from $4,762m the year ending December 2022. This growth was primarily driven by travel and transport receipts.