The support of surrounding communities is crucial to the long-term conservation of the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem. While these communities are rich in history and culture; they remain severely under-resourced when it comes to educational, social and economic opportunities. And with local inhabitants often bearing the cost of human-wildlife interactions, the future of preserving these wild spaces is dependent on ensuring these communities are our partners in conservation.
Our Community Engagement Program, working alongside local government and regional stakeholders, aims to uplift and empower communities while highlighting the economic opportunities that arise from long-term wilderness conservation. With this people-centric approach we are also able to reduce illegal activities that may impact this sensitive ecosystem. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for local communities, while fostering a respect for conservation amongst those who call these lands their home.
Human-wildlife conflict resolution
Key to protecting the greater Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem is ensuring that wildlife and local communities are able to peacefully co-exist. We work closely with these communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and to increase local understanding of the ecological and economic importance of conservation. We also implement a range of pro-active interventions to reduce opportunities for conflict. This includes installing predator-proof bomas to protect cattle herds, regular monitoring of lion pride movement, and coaxing elephants that have strayed close to villages to return into the reserve.
Economic empowerment
Village Community Banks (VICOBA) is a mutual savings bank that enables low-income households to access basic financial services on a sustainable basis. We currently support six VICOBA groups with a total of 180 members, the majority of whom are women. With access to financial services a crucial component in empowering rural households and reducing poverty in the region, we assist village saving groups with seed capital as well as initial training on how to run their businesses and trainee training (TOT). We have further supported women with Marketplace Literacy Training.
Soccer programme
To promote social engagement and community interaction, particularly amongst the youth in surrounding villages, the CCA organizes an annual sporting tournament. The Chem Chem league cup first launched in August 2019, and involved 24 teams; 20 competing in the soccer tournament and four in netball. CCA provides the teams with jerseys and balls, and covers the operating costs of the league. The event was an enormous success, with approximately 1000 spectators from across Tanzania attending. The event also helped to kick start the professional career of local footballer Rajabu Athumani, who has since been selected to play for the Tanzanian national football team.
Education
Access to quality education creates innumerable opportunities to enhance the lives of local communities. Within the Burunge Wildlife Management Area the CCA supports the infrastructure of local public schools by renovating and improving classrooms, teachers’ houses and school toilets. We support the provision of educational materials, and offer scholarship programmes for high-performing students. The CCA has donated a school bus to shorten the eight-kilometre commute to school and, in collaboration with Tanzanian conservation authorities, have supported the delivery of environmental education in 10 villages. We have also provided English language courses for youth and women in the region.
Health
The health and social care system in Tanzania is severely under-resourced, and those living with disabilities are often left with few opportunities for mobility, education and social interaction. The CCA advocates for the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities, and has to date donated more than 260 wheelchairs (and spare parts for repairs) to disabled people and public health facilities in both the Manyara region, and other parts of Tanzania. By providing wheelchairs, we hope to open a new reality for those with disabilities, offering independence, improved health and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Key accomplishments
2020