ABIUD KASWAMILA

Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in wildlife corridors: The case of Tarangire-Manyara Basin Ecosystem, northern Tanzania

LocationCountryCategoriesDate
Babati DistrictTanzaniaAfrica, Community, Conflict26 Mar 2008

The Burunge Wildlife Corridor in the Maasai steppe (northern Tanzania) encompassing three villages, via: Kwakuchinja, Sangaiwe and Minjingu is an important wildlife migratory route and dispersal areas for Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Parks. Despite its importance, the corridor is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic factors which have led to both encroachment and human-wildlife conflicts. In order to achieve conservation and development, the project intends to prepare and implement the Buffer Zone Land Use Planning (BUZLUP). The BUZLUP framework is a new approach developed in Tanzania for use in areas where humans co-exist with wildlife.

The project’s main objectives are twofold. First, is to create awareness education among local communities living adjacent to Tarangire National Park on the importance of land use plans in conservation and poverty reduction. Second, is to use the prepared and implanted land use plans to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) between conservationists and local communities living adjacent to Tarangire National Park. These two objectives will be achieved through a series of activities which will involve different stakeholders at District and local level. At District level, consultation with District Natural Resources Board to discuss the project before the take of the project. At village level several activities will be carried out: stakeholder analysis, awareness education among local communities on the importance of land-use plans, and stakeholder training on participatory rural appraisal skills. This will then be followed by the preparation of participatory land use plans in three study sites as described in the BUZLUP Framework. After having plans on the ground, mobilization of all resources necessary for the plan implementation with assistance from local leaders, team leader and district planning team. To ensure effective implementation of the plans, frequent plan monitoring (quarterly) will be effected. This will be carried out by the team leader in collaboration with village leaders. On the other hand, project evaluation will be initiated three years after the take-off.

For more information contact Kaswamila@hotmail.com or go to www.mwekawildlife.org

Project Update: June 2008

The first phase of the project entitled “Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in wildlife corridors” within the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem took off in April 2008 at District and village levels. At District level, consultation with Babati District officials, viz: District Executive Director, District Land and Natural Resources officer, and the District Natural Resources Advisory Body was held. At local level, consultation with Sangaiwe Village leaders,M wada Ward councilors and Tarangire Park staff took place and was followed with stakekeholder analysis exercise. Other activities which have been implemented in Sangaiwe village include: awareness education on importance of land use plans, training on participatory rural appraisal skills and preparation of Sangaiwe land use plan (see photos attached). Phase two of the project which is expected to begin after the long rains (September, 2008) will involve the two remaining villages (Kwakuchinja and Minjingu) and Lake Manyara National Park.


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