Can Soccer Save Elephants?
In a blood-pumping blend of sports and conservation, human-elephant coexistence officers recently organized a soccer tournament in the Ngorongoro landscape, pitting villages teams Mang’ola Juu against Makhoromba and Oldeani against Kiwanja.
Spectators not only enjoyed the matches but also received education on coexisting with elephants in a collaborative effort with staff from APW, Karatu District, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). Loudspeaker announcements, printed leaflets, and brochures provided critical information, while demonstrations showcased tools from our human-elephant conflict mitigation kits. The event was further amplified by coverage from Karatu Lumen FM Radio.
The mitigation kits, which include items such as noisemakers, high-powered flashlights, and firecrackers, were then distributed to newly trained community response groups. These tools are essential for protecting crops from elephants without causing harm, and participating villages will receive ongoing support from APW as well as NCAA Zonal Game Wardens and the Karatu District Game Officer.
While soccer alone can't keep elephants safe, educational and community-driven events are vital for fostering human-wildlife coexistence. Congrats to Oldeani on the final win!
Show Us Your Wild Heart
Join the wild side by donating to our "Wild At Heart" matching gift campaign! Your support helps Tanzanian communities coexist with wildlife and provides stipends, training, and equipment to our human-wildlife coexistence officers. Even better, your donation will be 100% matched by a generous supporter.
Boosting Beekeeping Capacity
This month marks a major milestone with the groundbreaking of a new Women’s Enterprise Center at Lemoot-Monduli. This center will boost honey processing and the production of Mama Asali products like skincare and soaps, while also serving as a hub for meetings, trainings, and retail sales.
Big thanks to individual donors and supporters like the U.S. Forest Service who made this possible! Our project evaluations showed a need for better processing and market access, and we're making it happen with local beekeepers leading the way.
Explore how eco-friendly businesses like Mama Asali protect the environment in our Story Map.
Yamat in Yellowstone
Yamat Lengai (right) recently returned from a visit to America’s Yellowstone National Park with a broader understanding of living with wildlife – and a newfound love of grizzly bears! As part of her Conservation Nation Fellowship, Yamat joined up with Taylor Rabe (left), another Fellow working as a wildlife technician in the park, to explore the science, technology, and people behind some of the region’s beloved (and feared) large carnivores. Read more from the Billings Gazette.
We look forward to hosting Taylor in Tanzania this fall! In the meantime, you can be part of this ongoing exchange by joining our Coexistence Across Continents webinar with Taylor and Yamat on July 16, starting at 7 pm ET. Register now.
Creating the Rangelands of Tomorrow, Today
Managing communal drylands is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring ongoing dedication and teamwork. Last month, our rangelands team convened nearly 200 pastoralists and local leaders in Monduli District to discuss pasture conditions, challenges, and improvement opportunities.
Local government and grazing committees agreed to the early removal of invasive species and to actively involve youth in restoration activities. Using community-collected data, they also pledged regular meetings to plan pasture rest cycles and ensure pasture security. Once again, a united effort ensures a thriving landscape for wildlife and grazing-dependent livelihoods.
New Leaders are Made at Noloholo
In a recent post on the APW blog, learn how this year’s environmental youth camps at the Noloholo Environmental Center have empowered rural youth. Hear from Saitabau, Jackline, and Edward how their experiences inspired them and opened new doors.
“I really liked the discussion on careers and leadership because most of our kids don't yet know what they want to be in the future. Later when we asked them, some of them had already thought of different careers like park ecologists, medical doctors, environmentalists, and tour guides.”
- Susan, Youth Environmental Education and Girls Club Program Officer
Quick Notes
WEBINAR | Coexistence Across Continents (July 16th at 7 pm ET)
Join Yamat Lengai for a virtual conversation on coexistence and her path to conservation with Taylor Rabe, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife technician who recently hosted Yamat on a Conservation Nation Fellow exchange.
PODCAST | The Answers Are Out There with Sean Gerrity
In a new podcast from APW International Advisory Council member Sean Gerrity, Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld and Neovitus Sianga share the “secret sauce” of our success with community-driven conservation. Available to listen to now!
RECAP | Key Messages from CBA18
We were honored to help host 320 attendees for the International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA18) in Arusha. Review the latest thinking by practitioners in locally-led adaptation in the conference’s key messages