Recent PhD research work in Tanzania by a trio of University College, London and Dar-es-Salaam University anthropologists, bids to establish a general research framework for advanced studies on blending natural resource conservation with economic development. How can a community-based approach to conservation emerge, that allows steady benefits to flow to different communities living around a protected area, groups that too often end up the losers by conservation projects? The study focuses on the case of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, where conflict between 'Nature-First' conservation and 'People-First' development has flared up in trecent years. It is seen as an acid test of the general principles and approaches needed to achieve conservation with development.

When the Reserve was established residence was permitted to a limited number of pastoralists. Human and livestock populations grew steadily over the next 35 years causing concern for the environment and sometimes local tension. The pastoral populations also formed the basis of considerable economic activity supporting many people. The Reserve was also a valuable source of honey, wild vegetables and firewood. In 1988:

• the main problem for farmers and herders was restricted access to cultivable or grazing land and water
• local populations deeply resented the lack of consultation by conservation groups who granted only very limited opportunities for participation and bypassed established traditional mechanisms for natural resource management, which formerly provided some basis for participation
• Fundamental contradictions undermine attempts to achieve just settlements for people in the Reserve neighbourhood, and obstruct economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development.

The communities concerned ought - on the face of it - to have been able to benefit from their situation, either through full protection of the reserve and a share of the resulting tourist revenue from wildlife, or by making a livelihood based on access to (and use of) the reserve's resources. In fact, they have lost out on both counts, bearing in mind that the reserve's tourism potential is considered low. The study reports emphasise that the aim of the researchers was to extract general principles and mechanisms for appropriate conservation with development (CWD) approaches, rather than prescribe specific solutions to Mkomazi's problems. The Mkomazi case suggests there are some conservation intiatives in Africa where fortress conservation and development are just not compatible. However, suggested policy implications are that::

• interests of all groups within local communities must be identified and addressed
• forums for negotiation between these groups must be established, with a mechanism for agreeing priorities and making needs clear to officials and donors
• true costs and benefits of conservation for local users at household, community and district levels must be evaluated, and accountable benefits must at least balance losses
• official capacity must be built up to enter into sensitive negotiation over customary systems of tenure, resource access and management rather than finesse them with restrictive legislation and enforcement
• community conservation must mean that management of wild resources is devolved to local control
• preferential long-term commitments must be given to providing support for individual CWD projects that respect principles of transparency, accountability and equity.

Source(s):
Conservation with development in East African rangelands: a case study from Tanzania > Summaries of PhD theses of D. Brockington and H. Kiwasila, University College, London (1997) >

Funded by: ESCOR/DFID, UK (1995-1997)

id21 Research Highlight: 1998-Apr-16

Further Information:
K. Homewood
Anthropology Department
UCL
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
UK

Tel: +44 (0)171 387 7050
Fax: +44 (0)171 380 7728
Contact the contributor: k.homewood@ucl.ac.uk

Anthropology Department, University College London (UCL), UK