In August 2025, the Tanzanian government announced it will not permit large-scale soda ash extraction at Lake Natron, safeguarding its Ramsar-protected wetlands and the world’s primary breeding ground for Lesser Flamingos. The decision, following four months of grassroots mobilization by Nature Tanzania and local Maasai communities, limits extraction to traditional small-scale surface collection—balancing conservation with community livelihoods and ecotourism benefits.