Threats

As human activities continue to grow exponentially, the Greater Serengeti faces challenges that demand immediate attention and conservation efforts.

Land conversion

Habitat loss, driven by land conversion, is one of the most severe and irreversible threats to the Greater Serengeti. Villages, human settlements and agriculture are changing the habitats around the protected area and are squeezing the Serengeti ecosystem from the outside. The land use changes associated with the growing human population are turning the once permeable borders into hard boundaries. Grazing lands are being transformed into croplands, croplands are giving way to human settlements, and settlements are becoming centres of commerce, all of which disrupt the natural order and block the free movement of animals.

AGRICULTURE

Human Growth

The human population is increasing at nearly 4% per annum in areas surrounding the Greater Serengeti, outpacing Tanzania’s national rate. This exerts immense pressure on the ecosystem. Over the past 50 years there has been a tenfold increase in the human population in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is partially fuelled by improved community services and is posing a complex challenge to the region’s ecological balance. The density of people in many areas exceeds the carry capacity of the landscape, forcing people away from their traditional pastoralist lifestyle in these semi-arid landscapes.

HUMAN POPULATION DENSITY PER KM

Wildlife crime

Wildlife crimes casts a shadow over the Greater Serengeti. Rhino and elephant poaching pose a constant threat, particularly in Maswa and Loliondo areas. The abundance of wildlife becomes an irresistible attraction, with nearly 100,000 migrating and resident ungulates falling victim to illegal bushmeat hunting in some years.

Illigal Livestock Grazing Inside

The unsustainable growth of domestic livestock (particularly sheep and goats) has resulted in a twentyfold increase in the last 50 years. When grass is depleted in the traditional grazing lands, livestock are often pushed into the protected area and this displaces the wildlife. While moderate livestock grazing at traditional densities can promote biodiversity, very high densities of livestock for extended periods of time can remove all the grass and cause habitat degradation which poses a threat to the Greater Serengeti’s integrity and resilience.

LIVESTOCK DENSITY PER KM

Highways and Commercial Infrastructure Projects

Commercial projects such as high-volume roads and large building complexes threaten to block the wildlife migration and displace them from the prime grazing lands. While some of these projects are aimed at promoting national development (such as highways through the protected area), others are aimed at promoting tourism inside the protected area (such as large lodges). These infrastructure projects push animals away from key habitats and resources. This raises concerns about the impacts these projects have on the region’s delicate and finely balanced ecosystem.

Climate Change

The looming spectre of climate change adds uncertainty to the equation. Its potential impact on weather patterns, fire regimes, plant diversity, and wildlife within the Greater Serengeti is not fully understood, demanding continued exploration and adaptation strategies.

In the face of these multifaceted threats, the Greater Serengeti Conservation Society stands resilient and committed to safeguarding this natural wonder for generations to come. Protect the beauty of the Greater Serengeti with us.

Access to Water

The Mara River is the only source of water for the migrating herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles during the dry season, but the amount of water is becoming unstable and highly variable. The herds routinely cross the river during the dry season, while grazing the adjacent pastures up and down stream. However, land degradation and agriculture not only take water away from the river, they also make the flow unpredictable by changing the vegetation and run-off in the catchment areas. If the Mara River stops flowing, the wildebeest will lose their only source of water in the dry season, and this could result in a massive die-offs. Estimates suggest that up to 400,000 wildebeest could die if the Mara stops flowing for 10 days or more during the driest time of the year.