.. und hier zur ergänzung die lange "Fassung"!
Ich finde die aktuelle Entwicklung sehr gut!!!!
Grüße baboon
144-BED HOTEL IN ZAMBIA OPPOSITE MANA POOLS
STOPPED (FOR THE TIME BEING ANYWAY)!
The Zambezi Society is delighted to announce that, in the face of opposition from conservationists and the tourism industry in Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as considerable public outrage (see the Facebook site SAVE MANA POOLS), Protea Hotels have withdrawn their application for development of a proposed 144-bed conference hotel in the Lower Zambezi region opposite Mana Pools National Park and World Heritage Site.
In a Media Release issued 13th April 2010, Danny Bryer, Protea's Director of Revenue Management, Sales and Marketing states:
"Protea Hotels has taken the decision to withdraw its application for development of a proposed hotel in the Lower Zambezi region. Having engaged in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) and taken cognizance of the concerns raised we have decided not to progress, taking the view that further clarity on the matter is needed.
Protea Hotels currently has five properties in Zambia and is committed to further investment. We will continue to have productive and meaningful dialogue with the Zambian authorities on further development in the country".
The Zambezi Society wishes to thank members, friends and supporters all over the world who helped give this appeal force.
We also wish to thank Protea Hotels for re-considering their position.
We wish to re-iterate that our door is always open to Protea, or any other developers, to discuss possible environmental implications of proposed developments in our area of interest - preferably at an early stage.
The Zambezi Society has submitted its comments on the Protea Hotels (Zambia) Environmental Impact Statement for this development to the Environmental Council of Zambia as required. A position statement is given below:
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ZAMBEZI SOCIETY STATEMENT ON PROTEA HOTEL ZAMBIA DEVELOPMENT
LOWER ZAMBEZI LODGE – CHIAWA GAME MANAGEMENT AREA
The Zambezi Society has reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared for the 144-bed conference development “Lower Zambezi Lodge” proposed by Protea Hotels Zambia on the banks of the Zambezi River at the Donatini Site in the Chiawa Game Management Area.
We have submitted our formal objection to this development, as described in the EIS, to the Environmental Council of Zambia as required before the deadline of 14th April 2010.
We understand the need for communities in the Zambezi valley to develop and to benefit from tourism. However, we believe a facility of this size and design is inappropriate for an area which is globally renowned as a wildlife and safari tourism destination of exceptional wilderness value. We believe that this hotel would be better built at an alternative site closer to settled areas and access routes, more convenient for its conference clients and its workforce and less intrusive on a fragile, wild environment.
Our objection is based on the following major reasons:
1. No international focus – the EIS for “Lower Zambezi Lodge” has a very narrow focus on what this development means to Zambia and neglects its international significance and impacts. The Zambezi River (where the site is situated) forms the international boundary with Zimbabwe in an area under discussion between the government authorities of Zambia and Zimbabwe for future trans-frontier tourism and conservation status variously termed “Partnership Park”, “Peace Park” and “TFCA”. On the southern Zambezi bank, right opposite the site and within 300 metres of it, is Mana Pools, a Zimbabwean National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 (see map). This area is also part of a newly designated Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve to be ratified by UNESCO later this year. The Protea development will have significant international impacts on important areas in Zimbabwe. Yet the EIS does not address these.
2. No consultation with Zimbabwe – there has been no serious attempt by the developers to consult with relevant authorities and stakeholders in Zimbabwe. Two “stakeholder consultation” meetings were held in Zambia in 2009, but Zimbabweans did not receive notification and were not represented.
3. Management plans are ignored – management plans for the Chiawa Game Management Area, the Lower Zambezi National Park and surrounds and the Mana Pools National Park exist. All acknowledge the need for low-volume tourism and low-impact development (the 2001 Lower Zambezi NP Plan calls for a moratorium on development) in the area. Yet their recommendations are ignored in the Protea EIS.
4. Inappropriate size and design – the “lodge” as proposed in the EIS is actually the size of a hotel (144 beds) and of a modern design completely out of keeping with previous management planning recommendations for the area, where “safari-type lodges” built in natural materials, with low-volume capacity (e.g. under 30 beds) are recommended as appropriate for minimising impacts to a fragile environment.
5. Inappropriate visitor numbers – it is estimated that this development will increase the number of visitors to the area by 25 000 – 30 000 per annum, with associated transport requirements, biological impacts and noise/light pollution etc. The Zambian tourism industry is already engaged in disputes about over-development and there are limits to visitor numbers entering the protected wildlife areas. This development will make matters far worse. There is little indication in the EIS of what activities will be available in the GMA for all these people, given that there are restrictions on park entry in Zambia and no international agreement with Mana Pools
6. Insufficient detail in the EIS document – regarding:
a) vehicle, boat and air access, road and airstrip upgrades and maintenance, boat useage/numbers and mooring facilities, power sources
b) arrangements for staff accommodation/transport to and from the hotel & impacts therefrom
c) tourism activities
d) measures to reduce acknowledged impacts (e.g. on the rare Samango monkey)
e) quantities of natural materials to be removed from the GMA for construction
f) water supply and treatment
g) waste disposal and sewage treatment
h) potential impacts of flooding
7. Setting a precedent – this development, if permitted, is likely to set a precedent for other large developments on both sides of the river to be allowed, with associated degradation of the environment, reduced chance of the Lower Zambezi National Park ever achieving World Heritage Site status if applied for, and possible loss of World Heritage Site status for Mana Pools.
8. Conflicts of interest – Chairman of Protea Hotels, Zambia, Mark O’Donnell is Chairman of the Tourism Council of Zambia and holds a seat on the Zambian Wildlife Authority Board – thus wielding considerable power which could influence how this hotel is viewed by the authorities. The EIS consultant engaged by Protea has also worked for the Environmental Council of Zambia, the organisation tasked with independent arbitration regarding the future of this proposal. This undermines the transparency of the EIA process.
The Zambezi Society is a non-governmental, conservation organisation based in Zimbabwe but focused on protecting the unique wildlife, biodiversity and wilderness values of the Zambezi River and its basin for the benefit of future generations. Established in 1982, the Society is a major stakeholder in the Zambezi Valley, having catalysed the original UNESCO application for World Heritage Site status for Mana Pools and its associated Zambezi Valley Safari Areas, granted in 1984. Over the years programmes have involved advocacy on oil exploration, tse-tse fly eradication, tourism development and wilderness awareness in the Zambezi valley, support for Zambezi National Parks and Protected Areas, and research and interpretative work in the “Four Corners” area of Botswana/Namibia/Zambia/ Zimbabwe, in Zambia’s Barotesland wetlands, and in Cabora Bassa and the Zambezi Delta in Mozambique. For more information see:
http://www.zamsoc.org and this Facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Zambezi-Society/398649118412________________________________________
Please forward this e-mail to anyone who might be interested in becoming a member of The Zambezi Society and helping us to Keep the Zambezi Wild!
THE ZAMBEZI SOCIETY
Conserving the wildlife and wildernesses of Africa's finest river
E-mail: zambezi@mweb.co.zw
