Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor@...> wrote:

Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining

26-08-2009

BirdLife has learnt that a Tanzanian Government Agency is seeking to buy mining equipment for large-scale soda ash extraction from Lake Natron the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor [Near Threatened] in the world. This is worrying indeed, said Lota Melamari - the CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST-BirdLife in Tanzania).

An advert for the supply of mining equipment, and a recent announcement of the expansion of the railway and building of new port at Tanga to handle soda ash all point to deliberate efforts to keep alive the intention of mining Lake Natron's soda ash", added Lota Melamari.

Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/think_pink.html