Tanzania: Wildlife Management Areas

Wildlife Management Areas in Africa were created to serve a dual purpose. By granting local communities usage rights over wildlife in designated areas, African countries hoped both to allow communities to benefit from their wildlife while taking an active part in conservation. A new paper in published in the open access journal Tropical Conservation Science outlines the current problems facing WMAs, using Tanzania as an example, and recommends possible solutions. 

To date there are 16 pilot WMAs in Tanzania, encompassing 135 villages. However, there are a number of challenges facing WMAs, including loss of wildlife habitat and overconsumption of resources. 

Elephants in Tanzania. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.

Agriculture, grazing and settlements have all contributed to habitat loss and fragmentation; as well there is a direct connection between the human density and the decline of wildlife. The study found that in WMAs where the human density was increasing rapidly conservation challenges proved more significant, including the bushmeat trade and unsustainable natural resource exploitation. 

Game hunting by tourists and subsistence hunting of some species are allowed in the WMAs, yet, especially in dense areas these allowances need better monitoring to ensure sustainability. In addition, governments must ensure that tourist hunting provides direct revenue for the local communities and isn't just funneled back to the government. 

According to the paper, WMAs can be successful in their dual role if they implement frequent monitoring of wildlife, conservation promotion and outreach programs within the communities, and low capacity building to ensure the sustainable-use of natural resources. As an example, the paper points to successful beekeeping in the WMAs of Uyumbu and Ipole, a program which provides additional income without hurting the environment. 

Finally, the study recommends that the formation process for WMAs is simplified. As it is, the complexity of establishing a WMA makes the process slow and cumbersome: some communities have had to wait up to 10 years for WMA status. 

Wilfred, P. 2010. Towards sustainable Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania. Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 3 (1):103-116. 

Letters of Support - Fundraising for Idaho!

The Idaho Natural Resource Foundation (Idaho NRF) was met with positive support after the presentation on December 15, 2010. Britt Hosmer Peterson, Idaho NRF Consultant, asked attendees to commit to sending out letters requesting support of the foundation. The letters will be sent to outfitter and guide's clients throughout the year, preferably immediately following the client's trip in Idaho. By the end of the presentation, attendees had collectively promised to send out over 500 letters!

If you did not attend the presentation and would like to receive the postage-paid, pre-stuffed letters from the Idaho NRF office - simply call Janey now at 208.342.1438!

We've designed these letters so simply that all you have to do it write your client's name and address on the envelope and pop it in the mail! How easy is that?! By you committing to send out a handful of letters you are supporting conservation work in Idaho. In advance, we'd like to thank you for your time and help!

All funds raised will be going into the Idaho NRF general endowment fund. This is the lifeblood of any organization. This is the money that keeps the foundation going, it enables us to create, organize, and manage projects throughout the state. It helps you with your outdoor business, supporting the natural resources you make a living from.

Idaho NRF was designed to help fund IOGA projects, through raising money outside of our small community of outfitters and guides. Please do your part in raising money for our 2011 general fund!

Call Janey now and commit to sending out at least one letter. Do not wait: 208.342.1438.

You can also e-mail Britt to find out other ways you can personally contribute. She'd love to hear any new fundraising ideas you may have!

Some homework...

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Follow us on Twitter: @IdahoNRF
Like us on Facebook: Idaho Natural Resource Foundation

Thank you everyone!

In the Tracks Of Giants, Ian McCallum

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

In the Tracks Of Giants, Ian McCallum

Check out the "In the Tracks of Giants" facebook page to keep up to date on the expedition through southern Africa!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-the-Tracks-of-Giants/174196872602757

...also check out Ian McCallum's speech at the World Wilderness Congress 9...
http://www.wild.org/video/wild9-ian-mccallum-english-2/