Browsing by Author "Bwire, Marlene"

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    Conservation with development: the case of communities living adjacent to the Mikumi national park, Morogoro, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2010) Bwire, Marlene
    Protected areas (PAs) such as National Parks (NPs) are nowadays required to contribute to sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development of communities abutting them. The main understanding of the concept of Conservation with Development (CwD) is that the resources inside PAs were once owned by local communities who are also negatively impacted by them and from exclusion of their use. The study investigated how the concept of conservation with development is fostered in communities that are adjacent Mikumi National Park (MINAPA). Three villages namely Ihombwe, Ruhembe and Mikumi adjacent to MINAPA were studied and an assessment was done on how they are being supported by the park. The study employed a livelihood framework approach and examined: the socio-economic welfare of villagers, their access to resources, nature of problems and conflicts occurring in the area, how are conflicts resolved, the way communities are involved in decision making and planning of CwD activities, support and benefit’s accrued from MINAPA. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used for triangulation of information. The methods included household questionnaire interview, focus group discussions, direct observations, key informant interview and review of secondary data. Data entry and analysis was done using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Tables and graphs were drawn using Excel programme. About 90 household (3%) out of a total 3,614 for the three study villages were randomly selected and interviewed. It was revealed that local communities that are adjacent to MINAPA are generally poor depending much on natural resources. About 50% were cultivating crops, 28% doing agro-pastoralism and 22% were engaged in mixed nonfarm activities. Household food security was impacted negatively by the semi-arid climate of the area and animals from MINAPA that raid on crops and also attacks human beings with no compensation of any kind. Benefits from MINAPA were reported to be patchy focusing on community benefits and not on individuals and constituted mainly of social services such as provision of class rooms, a health facility and water supply. Through own efforts few individuals have managed to secure unskilled employment with MINAPA and at local lodging and tourist lodges that are in the area serving tourists. Planning of conservation with development activities was reported top-down with only village and ward leaders involved and found aware of benefits accrued from MINAPA Ordinary villagers were less aware of benefits provided by MINAPA to their which is adjacent MINAPA. The study recommends that MINAPA should have proper CwD plan developed using participatory approaches and during the planning it should stipulate the type of direct and indirect benefits to be accrued by villagers from it. The NP should also address other problems such as park-village boundary conflicts and compensate victims of wildlife attacks.