BY NED GAGAHE
Illegal access roads through the Bloody Ridge Historical Park continued to be a major management challenge during 2025, according to a recent annual report.
The report said shortcut traffic from surrounding settlements contributed to a large proportion of environmental damage, littering, and disturbances recorded during the year.
Heavy vehicle use also caused road erosion, safety risks, and additional strain on ranger operations, the report said.
Several measures were implemented to manage access while maintaining community stability, including the introduction of resident vehicle permits, awareness campaigns, and the gradual closure of certain routes.
These actions were necessary to protect the integrity of the park, although they occasionally resulted in community tensions and security incidents.
A significant complication has been the need to identify alternative access routes for surrounding communities when illegal roads were closed through the park.
In many cases, the proposed alternative roads are located outside park boundaries and fall under the responsibility of other ministries responsible for road planning and infrastructure.
As a result, it has been difficult for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to justify involvement under existing government procurement systems, as it is difficult to use park resources for works beyond the park boundary.
Despite these constraints, the report said the park team was required to dedicate substantial time, funding, and operational resources towards facilitating or constructing alternative access routes.
“These interventions were necessary to reduce community backlash and allow enforcement measures to proceed safely. However, the costs were significant and placed additional pressure on the park’s limited budget, diverting funds that were originally intended for core conservation and development activities within Bloody Ridge National Historical Park,” the report said.
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