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Hamilton College

Publication Date

Fall 2015

Program Name

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

Abstract

This study compares and contrasts the perspectives, experiences, perceived issues and future solutions of four different actors interfacing with wildlife in Jangwani Corridor, Northern Tanzania, bordering Lake Manyara National Park. This project was conducted in Fall 2015 in Jangwani Corridor and Kigongoni Primary School from November 6th to December 2nd, 2015. The sample frame included all villagers living and working in Jangwani Corridor specifically looking at wildlife officers, poachers, farmers and students. I conducted three key informant interviews: one with the TANAPA park warden on background of the corridor, one with a cultural tour guide, who grew up in the corridor, and one with a former representative for farmers on the Mto Wa Mbu Council. I interviewed 5 individuals from Wildlife Protection and Management (two game officers and three TANAPA employees), 16 poachers in the Kigongoni area, 50 farmers from Jangwani village, 40 in verbal survey format and 10 in focal groups, and 117 students, 87 through written survey handouts and 30 in five focal groups. All subpopulations were representative except for wildlife protection and management. Both random and opportunistic sampling methods were used to collect data. Severe understaffing was a major issue expressed by interviewed individuals in Wildlife Protection and Management. Place is an important factor in who becomes a poacher. Students are aware of wildlife conflict and are taught about the dangers, the protection and value of wildlife by teachers and parents. All sub-­‐populations, apart from students, value wildlife most for their ability to provide income for the nation and attract tourists. From responses given, it can be concluded that villagers interviewed believe communal gain should be valued over individual gain. Top unprompted solutions for all four sub-­‐populations were education, employment, improving security and cooperation between actors in conflict. The majority of neither farmers, poachers nor interviewed protection employees felt that park removal and/or human use of park resources was a viable solution for issues of conflict in and around Lake Manyara park and Jangwani Corridor.

Disciplines

Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy

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