Raising Hopes on the Range

As a traditional leader from Armanie village, Simon Melau has worked tirelessly to restore degraded grazing areas in Longido District for the benefit of livestock and wildlife.

Throughout 2022, Simon participated in rangeland management training and worked to create awareness of and enforce grazing plans in the community. He also provided hands-on leadership by helping to reduce soil erosion in waterways and remove invasive plant species from communal grazing lands.

Simon’s commitment to positively impacting local livelihoods and the environment is shared by fellow community members, who had an opportunity for short-term employment through restoration projects and who have been able to witness the results firsthand.

The return of nutritious and palatable native grass species – once lost due to bush encroachment – is a green glimmer of hope. And for a region that’s already under the immense stress of climate change, Simon is leading the way to a more balanced landscape for pastoralists and nature.

In addition to rangeland work in the Greater Lake Natron landscape, African People & Wildlife supports the data-driven community management of 800,000+ acres of critical grasslands across northern Tanzania. Learn more about the Sustainable Rangelands Initiative and support this vital work to find the balance for wildlife and pastoralist communities.