A REPORT ON STATE OF CONSERVATION OF SELOUS GAME RESERVE WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY 2019

State of Selous Game Reserve submitted by Government of Tanzania to UNESCO in 2019

Selous Game Reserve has been faced with several challenges mostly poaching which led to inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2014. Since then, the State Party continued to undertake measures to halt poaching and considerable progress has been made largely through State Party initiatives and through the implementation of Emergency Action Plan in support of Selous Ecosystem Conservation and Development (SECAD) program. Reduced poaching trends will be confirmed by aerial census, which uses Systematic Reconnaissance Flight (SRF) following technique described by Norton-Griffith. The aerial census conducted in October 2018 will provide data required for updating and finalizing Desired State of Conservation for Removal. Regarding Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor, although the five-year Action Plan to protect the corridor has not been approved, to ensure protection of the corridor, key actions are being implemented under the separate SECAD program in 36 villages in the corridor. On the other hand, the State Party has established two units for rhino monitoring and protection in the property since August 2017. Furthermore, the State Party has developed a National Rhino Management Plan (2019 - 2023), which considered the protection of rhino in the property. After the population status is established, the action plan for long-term survival of the species in the property will be developed following National Management Plan. The State Party is currently implementing an industrial development strategy that has triggered the need for expansion of power generation in the country. This has forced the State Party to carry out Rufiji Hydropower Project in order to meet the desired power generation target and industrial development. The project is however implemented in line with Operational guideline of the WHC, which includes preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment with a specific chapter addressing impacts on Outstanding Universal Value.

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• State of Selous report to UNESCO 2019