Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Saidi Othman Yakubu, has commended the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) for combining conservation with innovation to protect the Serengeti while expanding opportunities for sustainable tourism.
Ambassador Yakubu made the remarks during a visit to Serengeti National Park as part of his tour of Tanzania’s World Heritage Sites. The Serengeti was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
He said TANAPA’s efforts to protect the park and the annual Great Migration one of the world’s most spectacular natural events were critical to preserving the Serengeti’s global heritage status.
At the same time, he praised the authority for developing new tourism products without compromising the ecological integrity and authenticity of the park.
“The challenge is to protect the value of the Serengeti while finding innovative ways to increase its contribution to the country’s tourism economy,” Ambassador Yakubu said.
He also welcomed initiatives aimed at involving communities surrounding the park in conservation and development, saying local participation was essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Serengeti.
During the tour, the ambassador visited Seronera, Fort Ikoma and Bunda, as well as the Serengeti Media Centre, which was established with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
He said the centre demonstrated the value of international cooperation in strengthening conservation education, communication and efforts to promote the Serengeti to a global audience.
Ambassador Yakubu also welcomed the Government’s approval of TANAPA’s request to expand the Speke Gulf area, saying the move would extend the Serengeti conservation landscape towards Lake Victoria and create room for additional conservation initiatives and tourism products.
He said such developments should be pursued carefully to ensure that economic opportunities do not undermine the environmental values that have made the Serengeti one of the world’s most recognised natural heritage sites.
“Serengeti is Tanzania’s pride and a World Heritage Site. I commend our staff for their professionalism and patriotism in protecting it, while using innovation to add value to tourism for the benefit of the nation and future generations,” he said.
The visit highlights Tanzania’s broader effort to strengthen the link between conservation, community participation and sustainable tourism as the country seeks to protect its natural heritage while increasing its economic value.
