Bringing the Promise of Human-Wildlife Coexistence to New Landscapes
With a team led by Neovitus Sianga, Community Conservation and Environment Director, African People & Wildlife has been on the road to bring our human-wildlife conflict prevention programs to new landscapes. Expanding our reach to new areas is a key part of our growth this year and our 2030 strategic vision. It is also an exciting opportunity to collaborate with partners and communities looking for nature-based solutions that protect biodiversity and human livelihoods.
Community Outreach in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Elephants in and around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) have been feeling the squeeze of habitat loss and conflict with people. In our visit to the NCA region this month, we held community consultations in 4 villages vulnerable to crop damage to learn how to best develop, implement, and monitor human-elephant conflict prevention efforts.
We are grateful to the Elephant Crisis Fund, Global Conservation, and Conservation Nation for their support of this work, which is made possible by a partnership with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and the participation and trust of local families.
Getting the Lay of the Land in Greater Mkomazi
From bushy savanna to arid forest, Mkomazi National Park and surrounding communal lands are full of life – and competition for natural resources from resident wildlife and pastoralists. Last week, Neovitus and staff conducted initial meetings with park management and neighboring villages to discuss human-wildlife coexistence and sustainable rangelands programs that will be implemented in the landscape this year, including Warriors for Wildlife and Living Walls.
This expansion is part of a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), which also takes the team to Mikumi National Park next month.
The Strength of the "Mama" in Mama Asali
Beekeeping Program Officer Samson Beah has been thinking big – and looking up! Members of the Women’s Beekeeping Initiative just completed their plans to hang 250 beehives early this year. Their efforts mean that trees and the surrounding habitat will be safe from cultivation as hives hang in the branches overhead.
Each hive is meticulously assembled by the Mama Asali beekeepers, from painting identification codes to hoisting them in the air to bait wild bees. And while it takes many hands, the teamwork and friendships created among the women makes their bonds stronger and the results even sweeter.
Empowering People to Overcome Extremes
Dire drought conditions in the Greater Lake Natron landscape continue to result in heartbreaking losses of livestock that sustain local livelihoods, not to mention the extreme threat to wildlife. As part of the Land for Life program with WWF-UK, WWF-Tanzania, WWF-Kenya, and SORALO, our human-wildlife conflict prevention specialists are meeting with hundreds of herders across 20 villages.
Elvis Kisimir and the team share how to safeguard livestock and mitigate conflicts with wildlife in the fight for resources, especially water and forage. Along the way, Elvis also captured a stunning look at the landscape below the towering Ol Doinyo Lengai, "Mountain of God."
Common Ground: The Girls Foundation of Tanzania Visits Noloholo
Through a collaboration supported by Conservation Nation, we are working with a fantastic and uplifting organization, The Girls Foundation of Tanzania (TGFT), and its mission of educating Tanzanian girls to become informed and empowered leaders in their communities.
APW staff members Yamat Lengai and Prisca Urio quickly identified common goals and paths to future collaboration within our programs. The first step was a visit to the Noloholo Environmental Center, where a group of 6 girls from TGFT learned about conservation and put their lessons into action with field studies around our campus.
New Hire: Meet David Castico
When programs spread to new landscapes, we need to increase our capacity with new team members! David Castico has been hired as our new Human-Wildlife Conflict Prevention Program Officer, bringing his conservation and geographic information science (GIS) background to a role managing Warriors for Wildlife and conflict responses.
David graduated with a B.Sc. degree from the College of African Wildlife Management in Mweka and will soon complete his M.Sc. in GIS and Cartography from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is also a storyteller and nature photographer, and we look forward to seeing holistic conservation work through his eyes.
You Make Coexistence Possible
We are grateful for the partners, community members, and donors who support our programs and drive our mission forward. Each contribution helps save big cats and other wildlife, build resiliency, and promote sustainable livelihoods in landscapes across Tanzania and beyond. Make a gift today!