Wildlife Conservation In East African Rangelands: Different Approaches with Maasai in Tanzania & Kenya Mara Goldman Department of Geography University of Colorado, Boulder
Measuring success ; Comparing models Wildlife Conservation Livelihoods Community support Sustainability Conservation Easement (ES) Population trends Poverty Reduction Support for project In the short term Lease Payments (ES) Poaching trends Continuation of pastoralism Expansion of project to other areas In the long term Community- Based Conservation /Multiple use areas (CBC) Acceptance of new conservation projects Security (Tenure, Property) Trust and respect Internal vs external resources and support
Maasai and Wildlife Conservation Overlap in Space History of land loss Politics of resource use and control
Case studies in and near Maasailand, Kenya and Tanzania Kisumu Nakuru Nanyuki Western Serengeti Musoma Mara Nairobi Kitengela Longido Amboseli Shinyanga Arusha Moshi Simanjiro / Manyara Ken y a Tanzania Dodoma N Park and Game Reserves Lake District Boundary Southern Maasai land 100 0 100 200 Kilometers Said (2007)
The Case Studies Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem: (1) Tanzanian Land Conservation Trust: Manyara Ranch: to protect a wildlife corridor and promote pastoralism, TLCT/AWF (10yrs) (2) Simanjiro Conservation Easement: Terrat Simanjiro Plains, Dorobo Fund, WCS (4 yrs) Kitengela Athi-Kapatuei Plains (1) Kitengela Lease Program (10 yrs)
TME or Maasai Steppe Heartland Includes two main areas of conservation concern: Kwakuchinja corridor (MR); Simanjiro Plains (Sim Easement).
Manyara Ranch Former state-run cattle Ranch Local claims of ownership and use rights Threats: increased cultivation in surrounding villages, poaching, charcoal production Trust lands to protect migratory and resident wildlife and traditional pastoralism 99 year lease Tanzanian Land Conservation Trust (TLCT)
Score card? Secured part of the corridor, decreased charcoal production, stabilized WL Limited local employment as scouts and herders BUT Increased local resentment due to grazing restrictions, and lack of respect for traditional knowledge, management and cultural practices: Increase in illegal grazing and harvesting Increase in lion hunting inside the ranch and regardless of legality Refusal of a new corridor protection easement project by same organization (AWF) Wildlife in village lands Politics
Simanjiro Plains Essential grazing area for migratory wildlife from TNP History of conservation & land politics Tourism and hunting conflicts Land conflicts and tenure insecurity THREATS: increased cultivation, fragmentation, privatization, poaching
Simanjiro Conservation Easement: Terrat
Village Lease Project Village paid to not farm, build and welcome wildlife Village control over money Local game scouts hired and trained Communal tenure UCRT and Local community members involvement Long history of trust, communication, benefits Source: TNRF Research linked with action
Scorecard? Only 4 years, no wildlife data yet but increased patrolling and local support Increased support for conservation Cost effective US $8000 for an area of 9300 ha (+ game scouts) 2 neighboring villages requested for expansion But sustainable? Soon enough to tell? Threats: TZ politics and game hunting; further land pressures, climate change, disease (MCF)
Kitengela: Athi- Kaputei Plains Source: ILRI, see: Reid Robin S., Gichohi H, Said MY, Nkedianye D, Ogutu JO et al. 2008.
The upper Kaputiei: dry season refuge gone Ngong Ongata Rongai Nairobi National Park Fragmentation Privatization Fences Kiserian Athi River Loss of land Loss of route to dispersal area Isinya Konza Kajiado National Park Road Railway Fenced Property Ecosystem Boundary N 10 0 10 20 Kilometers
Kitengela Wildlife Conservation Lease Project Started 2000 by FONAP, continued by The wildlife foundation (TWF) Private land owners paid 300 Ksh ($4.25 in late 2006) to keep land unfenced and undivided, refrain from poaching, protect vegetation. IRLI research, community support Fencing, community liaison officer Sharing research results, getting research questions KILA and local representatives
Trends Expansion: 2000 214 acres from 2 participants 2004 118 families in first triangle, moving to the third triangle. Money used to pay for school fees and help with bad years Improved attitudes of wildlife conservation Allows people to hold onto their land Supports pastoral lifestyles. BUT Sustainable? Threats: Price of land, population growth, land pressure, politics... (Reid et al,2008; Nkedianye 2003; Nkedianye et al 2009).
Terrat and Kitengela Securing Rather than Threatening TENURE SECURITY, and GRAZING ACCESS increased fragmentation and privatization of land, and increased risk of outside extraction Both Projects provide a MEANS to control the land for grazing. keep it in Maasai hands, and available for livestock Working with Relationship of Trust, Open Communication, and Mutual Respect Long term relations with tour companies, Research Teams, local CBOs, and Community Members
Can WL conservation Succeed in Pastoral Rangelands? For BOTH WL and pastoralists? Financial benefits: for whom and how (i.e. payments vs employment) Grazing: is land Keeping land open for wildlife and livestock or is limited access to grazing for livestock permitted Tenure: Supporting local needs to secure tenure, or extraction, boundary based Relationship: Open Communication, Trust, and respect Participation: in research, management, Decision making
Thank You! Communities of Oltukai, Esilalie, Terrat, an Emboret in Tanzania Dorobo Tours, Ujamaa CRT, TNRF (Tanzania) Manyara Ranch and AWF personnel KILA, and residents of greater Kitengela Area and ILRI (KY) David Nkedianye, Robin Reid