Saw millers force birds to flee Chembe Sanctuary

September 26, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Kalulushi
GOVERNMENT is concerned that thousands of birds have migrated from the Chembe Bird Sanctuary in Kalulushi due to continued noise by saw millers.
Kalulushi district commissioner Joyce Nsamba said, in an interview yesterday, that thousands of birds have fled from the sanctuary because of human noise.
“We are extremely concerned as Government that the Chembe Bird Sanctuary which used to attract a lot of tourists many years ago can no longer do so because bird species have migrated due to the noise caused by saw millers,” Ms Nsamba said.
She said Government is devising a plan to relocate saw millers from the bird sanctuary.
Ms Nsamba said Government is in the process of revamping the area so that it can start attracting tourists from various parts of the world.
She said it is unfortunate that human activities have forced the birds to migrate to other areas within and outside Kalulushi.
“You can even see some of the birds in town and golf course area in Kalulushi. We are happy that Government is in the process of revamping the sanctuary because it has the potential to create jobs for the local people,” she said.
Ms Nsamba said Government is working hand in hand with the local authority in ensuring that saw millers are relocated from the sanctuary.
She said the bird sanctuary has the potential to positively contribute to the economic development of Kalulushi once it is fully operational.
“All we need to do is move out the saw millers, even the people who are conducting illegal fishing in the lake must also be stopped. Any other human activities must be discouraged for us to attract back the bird species,” she said.
Ms Nsamba said Government is committed to developing the tourism sector because it is cardinal to the development of the country.
She said tourism is one of the sectors which have the potential to contribute to employment creation in various communities.
Ms Nsamba said the Chembe Bird Sanctuary is an area of miombo woodland and grassland covering about 450 hectares.
The sanctuary is located on the Kalulushi-Kasempa road and is well signposted.
It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1973. Few years later, it was given the same status as that accorded to a national park.