Living Walls
Living Walls
In northern Tanzania, shrinking habitats are causing people and wildlife to live closer together than ever before. As a result, lions and other large carnivores often find easy meals in the form of domestic livestock. The death of a cow, goat, or sheep represents a serious loss for rural families in the region, who may kill lions in revenge.
To reduce human-wildlife conflict, APW partners with communities to build Living Walls—nature-friendly corrals that keep livestock safe. Designed hand-in-hand with local people, Living Walls are in high demand across northern Tanzania. Local involvement is strong, with individual owners contributing 25% of the cost. APW’s Warriors for Wildlife team monitors Living Wall conditions to ensure that the structures remain effective over time.
A recent study shows that people who own Living Walls are more likely to be positive and optimistic about coexisting with large carnivores. To date, more than 1,500 Living Walls positively impact more than 18,000 people and keep more than 214,000 livestock safe every night. Living Walls have led to the planting of more than 210,000 living Commiphora trees.
Benefits of Living Walls
- Protect livestock from attack
- Prevent the retaliatory killing of wildlife
- Uplift livelihoods
- Improve local attitudes toward large carnivores
- Contribute to habitat preservation
- Demonstrate the value of shared knowledge
- Exhibit culturally appropriate solutions
Learn how a Living Wall has improved the life of a Maasai herder and his family.
Benefits of Living Walls
- Protect livestock from attack
- Prevent the retaliatory killing of wildlife
- Uplift livelihoods
- Improve local attitudes toward large carnivores
- Contribute to habitat preservation
- Demonstrate the value of shared knowledge
- Exhibit culturally appropriate solutions
Learn how a Living Wall has improved the life of a Maasai herder and his family.
BUILDING A LIVING WALL
Step One
Limbs of living Commiphora trees are sustainably harvested.
Step Three
Grounded by the furrow, chain-link fencing is wrapped around the trees.
Step Two
The trees are planted in a circle, and a furrow is dug around the perimeter.
Step Four
The chain-link fencing is secured to the trees, which continue to grow and add height to the wall.
BUILDING A LIVING WALL
Step One
Limbs of living Commiphora trees are sustainably harvested.
Step Two
The trees are planted in a circle, and a furrow is dug around the perimeter.
Step Three
Grounded by the furrow, chain-link fencing is wrapped around the trees.
Step Four
The chain-link fencing is secured to the trees, which continue to grow and add height to the wall.
“Our Living Walls are 99.9% successful in preventing attacks on livestock, which results in fewer retaliatory lion killings. No lions have been killed at homesteads where Living Walls are installed.”
DR. LALY LICHTENFELD, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AFRICAN PEOPLE & WILDLIFE
RELATED
APW’s Warriors for Wildlife team provides rapid response to human-wildlife conflict events across 30 communities in northern Tanzania. Learn more
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Our programs positively impact 35 communities in six critical conservation landscapes across northern Tanzania. Learn more
P.O. Box 11306
Arusha, Tanzania
+255 767 172 086
P.O. Box 624
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
+1 (908) 642-1540
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P.O. Box 11306
Arusha, Tanzania
+255 767 172 086
P.O. Box 624
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
+1 (908) 642-1540
CONNECT WITH US
STAY UP TO DATE
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CONNECT WITH US
STAY UP TO DATE
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