Towards sustainable Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania | Tropical Conservation Science

Within the last few years, Tanzania has witnessed mushrooming growth of “wildlife management areas” (WMAs) meant to halt (or reduce) loss of wildlife and ensure that local people benefit from conservation. However, human pressure is rapidly increasing and causing management problems in the WMAs. Some human land-use activities also limit wildlife dispersal; poor resource use diversification and lack of creativity constrain use of natural resources; consequently, their contribution to sustainable livelihoods is undermined. A road map to sustainable WMAs should responsibly engage the government, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations in a joint effort towards realization of simple and flexible WMAs establishment process, quality wildlife habitat, and reduced human pressure on the wildlife resources, as well as successful and sustainable wildlife-based enterprises.