Involve local communities in PPP conservation projects, Dr Kalumanga says

Bagamoyo. The involvement of local communities in public-private partnerships in conservation efforts is very important to ensure sustainability, an expert in conservation has said.

Private Sector Engagement Manager, USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Preserve Natural Resource) Project, Dr Elikana Kalumanga, told journalists over the weekend that for effective conservation, it was time to manage ecosystems with, and not for, the local communities.

He was referring to those areas that are under local communities, such as wildlife corridors, animal dispersal areas and wildlife management areas that are directly under the auspice of villages.

Dr Kalumanga noted that the failure to secure full participation of local communities in various conservation efforts stems from their perception of not reaping tangible benefits from these activities.

Despite sharing the costs associated with conservation, they are often unaware of the potential benefits they could derive from them.

“Are Tanzanians aware of biodiversity conservation-related economic opportunities? What are incentives for cost sharing in biodiversity conservation?” Dr Kalumanga told journalists at a two-day training session organised by the Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) and sponsored by the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity.

The participation of the private sector, including foreign investors and financial institutions, is very important to give the workforce in wildlife areas alternative employment opportunities, he noted.

But the people should be in a position to receive and work with these investors while being actively involved in the management of wildlife areas.

“Who is the owner of wildlife areas that are outside protected land? The people must have that sense of ownership; they must manage and be able to develop these areas sustainably,” he noted.

In fact, he said, the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity aims to address the mismatch between existing conservation strategies and the potential opportunities offered by sustainable wildlife management.

“Future generations might make fun of us if we don't come up with suitable plans and act swiftly to take advantage of the present chances for sustainable conservation, just as we now make fun of our forefathers for treating diamonds like toys rather than realising their actual value as assets,” Dr Kalumanga noted. Tanzania has over 60 wildlife corridors, many of which face conservation challenges.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Dar es Salaam, lecturer Abdallah Katunzi, who also made a presentation during the training, stressed that collaborative efforts are required to conserve and preserve the environment to ensure generational equity.

To be able to do this, journalists should be on the frontlines of the protection of wildlife.

“To be able to go on the frontlines of wildlife conservation, we need to put it on the media agenda and make it a popular debate,” Dr Katunzi noted.