This semester we’ve come in contact a few times with wildlife corridors, including one of our guest lectures and the Y2Y corridor. We talked about the importance of them and the importance of conserving areas for wildlife in a rapidly changing landscape. This website, Serengeti Watch, provides insight to a threatened wildlife corridor that could have a huge impact on the livelihoods of many and the success of Tanzania as a country. The government of Tanzania is acting on a highway plan that will cut straight through Serengeti National Park, one of the largest wildlife corridors in the world and a home to the largest migration route for countless species including the wildebeest and zebra. As we know, the disruption of habitats through land use change can lead to extinction, island bio-geography, and edge effects among many other detrimental issues. This website provides a way to learn about the vast impacts of the highway and advocates for the “alternate route” to the south. While President  Kikwete argues that the highway will provide economic success on a local and national level by connecting rural villages and allowing for more goods and services to pass through the area, the Serengeti draws in millions of tourists which greatly add to the national income. This website provides many news articles both for and against the highway and provides links for users to take action. It keeps up to date news stories and developments on the issues and is a great educational resource for the highway debate. It looks at the challenges and impacts of the near future as well as the far off future, as well as addressing the impacts through many scopes. The loss of this corridor could mean the deaths of several thousand wildebeest alone. Save the Serengeti provides a current example of the threats to wildlife and wildlife corridors because of human impacts. Its definitely an interesting topic and debate as to whether the needs of humans and wildlife can/must be compromised, definitely an interesting topic!

http://www.savetheserengeti.org/issues/stop-the-serengeti-highway/#axzz1Jo2KvJCI