Ruaha National Park
Background
The Ruaha National Park in the southern highlands of Tanzania is a wilderness area of over 10,000km2. Situated on the convergence zone of northern and southern species. Ruaha is teeming with wildlife including the greater and lesser kudu, elephant and wild dog. Like all other major reserves in Africa, Ruaha is not an island. A population of over 42,000 people live on its eastern boundary in eighteen villages. Over the years pastoralists from other parts of the country have been attracted to the area’s fertile land and the Ruaha River.
However the Ruaha River, the life force and focus of the Park and its neighbouring communities, is under threat. Each year, the water that reaches Ruaha Park from the Usangu basin is decreasing at an alarming rate. In previous years the Usangu swamp was the 'source' of the Great Ruaha River but the water catchment area has been put under tremendous pressure from over use by agricultural practices, mainly rice farming. It is not uncommon for the River to now dry up completely for several months of the year, something which was unheard of before.
Tusk Support
Tusk’s first ever grant was made in support of Ruaha National Park in 1990, when the Trustees agreed to assist the Friends of Ruaha Society, a locally based conservation NGO, to acquire a Cessna 182 aircraft for aerial patrols of the park. Numerous subsequent grants have been made since then which have helped build remote ranger posts and maintain the aerial support over the whole conservation area, including the buffer zones.
Idodi Environmental Education Centre
With the increase in human population on the Park’s boundary and the future of the Ruaha River in jeopardy the locally based NGO, the Ruaha Conservation Fund, has built an environmental centre for use by everyone in the surrounding communities. The aim of this school is to enable young people of the region to become aware and interested in their environment. Initiated last year, the building of this multi purpose centre has now been completed.
Funded partly by Tusk, this solar powered building comprises a library, a large hall for showing films and lectures for up to 100 students, a display area focusing on the environment and a reception room for the Headmaster and teachers to use for small discussion groups. The centre provides a venue for an active environmental club, film documentary shows and talks by invited speakers.
Comments from the field
“Tusk has always been a fantastic supporter for Ruaha Park. They are quick to give an answer and quick to deliver funds once the decision has been made. There is a minimum of paper work, which is a real bonus for people like us who are 100% voluntary. Tusk understands the way Africa works and this is what makes Tusk an invaluable and solid supporter.”
Sue Stolberger, Ruaha Conservation Fund
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