BirdLife Says “Think Pink"

Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Oct 30, 2007

In July, I wrote about a proposal to build a soda ash plant on the shores of Lake Natron in Tanzania. Though such a plant might be a lucrative industrial project, it might also mean extinction in Africa for the Lesser Flamingo. Three quarters of the world population of the birds breed at this one site in East Africa and the species is already listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.

A soda ash plant is likely to have a devastating effect on the birds for several reasons:

• It will change the chemical composition of the water. Lake Natron’s highly alkaline water supports the growth of cyanobacteria, a food source for the birds that they filter out with their beaks.
• Development by the lake and changing water composition will probably attract new predators to the area – species the nesting flamingoes don’t have to contend with now.
• The disturbance caused by commercial, and possibly residential, construction, followed by plant operations will disrupt the quiet and seclusion of a site that has remained remote from such disturbance.

Sadly, the government of Tanzania and TATA Chemicals seem determined to go ahead. BirdLife International is asking us all to pitch in in the fight to convince them otherwise. Individuals are encouraged to write to the Tanzania Minister of the Environment and voice our opposition to the plan on environmental grounds. Addresses and FAX numbers are provided by BirdLife. If you’re thinking pink, act soon: time is running out for Lesser Flamingos