Posted on September, 01 2017

In response to the release of the invitation to tender for building Stiegler’s Gorge hydropower dam at the heart of the Selous Game Reserve, WWF reiterates its deep concerns that necessary evaluations have not been carried out to assess its potential impacts to people’s livelihoods and environment.
 
Selous Game Reserve is recognized globally as a World Heritage site – home to globally important populations of elephants, wild dogs and hippos, and supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Tanzanians. Development in such a valuable and precious location should only be considered following due and careful consideration of its potential impacts.
 
Stuart Orr, Freshwater Practice Leader at WWF International, said:
 
“This huge dam risks the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people and irreversible damage to the ecology of this iconic reserve. It will impact on Selous’ tourism and the damage could be so great it results in the World Heritage site being delisted – only the third one ever to be delisted.
 
“Alternative hydropower schemes outside the Selous Game Reserve have already been identified and if developed would provide a similar amount of power but with less impact on the World Heritage site. A thorough assessment would highlight these benefits, assess the options and ensure that the best, most sustainable route be taken.”
 
A WWF analysis, published in July, found that the proposed hydropower dam will threaten both Selous’ remarkable wildlife and the livelihoods of over 200,000 people. Read WWF’s full press release here.

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For further information
Scott Edwards | sedwards@wwfint.org | +44 7887 954116