CONTRIBUTION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION OUTSIDE PROTECTED AREAS IN TANZANIA, THE
CASE OF BURUNGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
JEHOVANESS RAPHAEL SARAKIKYA
A RESERCH REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIMENTS FOR AWARD OF BACHELOR DEGREE OF TOURISM
MANAGEMENT OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA
2022
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned certifies that she has read and hereby recommends for acceptance by
the Open University of Tanzania, a research report entitled: contribution of local
communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the bachelor degree of tourism management of the
Open University of Tanzania.
_____________________________
Dr. Halima Kilungu
Supervisor
_____________________________
Date
ii
COPYRIGHT
This dissertation is copyright material protected under the Berne Convention, the
Copyright Act of 1999 and other international and national enactment in that on
behalf on intellectual property. It may not be reproduced by any means, in full or in
part, except for short extracts in fair dealings, for research or private study, critical
scholarly review or discourse with an acknowledgement, without the written
permission of the Director of Postgraduate Studies, on behalf of both the author and
the Open University of Tanzania.
iii
DECLARATION
I Jehovaness Raphael Sarakikya declare that this report is my own unaided work. It is
being submitted for the bachelor degree of tourism management at the Open
University of Tanzania. The report has not been submitted before for any degree or
examination in any other university.
………………………………………..
Signature
………………………………………..…
iv
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to the Almighty God for protection, strength and good health
throughout the period of my study. I also dedicated this work to my beloved parents
Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Sarakikya who laid a foundation of my life.
v
AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am deeply grateful and indebted to Dr. Halima Kilungu my advisor, for her
guidance, supervision and suggestions. Successful achievement of this research would
have been very difficult without her generous time devotion from the early design of
the questionnaire to the final write up of the thesis by providing valuable positive
comments and thus I am indebted to her for her kind and determined efforts that
enabled me to conclude the study.
I would also like to extend my special thanks to the Game rangers, Head of house
hold from Mweda Village, Village chairman as well as District game officer, without
their help and cooperation this study would not have been materialized.
Lastly, I am obliged to mention my appreciation to my beloved husband Amanyisye
Urassa and my children’s Jaden and Abigail Amanyisye, thanks you all for your
efforts to encourage and support me during preparation of this report. I further thank
lecturers who have contributed towards my professional growth during the course of
study at the Open University of Tanzania. I also extend my appreciation to my
colleagues in bachelor degree of tourism management of the Open University of
Tanzania for their contributions during classes, discussion and sharing of the study
materials and notes.
God bless you all!
vi
CERTIFICATION .......................................................................................................ii
COPYRIGHT ............................................................................................................. iii
DECLARATION......................................................................................................... iv
DEDICATION.............................................................................................................. v
AKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................................. vi
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. viii
CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Background Information ...................................................................................... 1
vii
ABSTRACT
The general objective of this study was to assess the contribution of local
communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania.
Specifically, the study aimed to assess the perception of local communities towards
wildlife conservation, ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife and the
challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife in Burunge wildlife
management area. This study used a case study research design whereby both
qualitative and quantitative studies were used. Population in this study involved Game
rangers, Head of house hold from Mweda Village, Village chairman as well as
District game officer. The researcher included a sample size of 29 total numbers of
respondents. The researcher used simple randomly and purposive sampling methods
in selecting a sample. Also, the researcher used questionnaire as the method of data
collection method.
The study found that the perception of local communities towards wildlife
conservation are: - Local Communities like Conservation, Conservation has many
benefits to local Communities, Conservation is the source of human/wildlife conflicts
and Communities are the source of human/wildlife conflicts. Also, the study reveals
that ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in Burunge wildlife
management area are: - To report any action that leads to poaching of wildlife both
plants and wildlife, to be ready to re- allocated to give space for conservation, To
educate other colleagues on the importance of conservation and To protect
environment so as to avoid wildlife to run away. facing social workers are: - low
understanding capacity of community members, ignorance of the villagers about
responsibilities of social workers, shift of clients from one place to unknown places,
poor corporations from local leaders and Insufficient information from society and
viii
their leaders. Furthermore the study identifies challenges local communities face to
conserving wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area are: - Low level of
conservation, Threats to report poachers because of superstition fear, Some poachers
are part of friends and relatives.
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CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Background Information
Conservation in Africa, in particular Tanzania dates back in pre-colonial period where
wildlife lived freely in harmony with human (Kilungu et al, 2014; Chigonda, 2018).
In that time, Chiefs slightly mandated how some species of wildlife were used and
managed while local communities obeyed the orders (URT, 2013). Thus, the
contribution of local communities in conservation should not be underestimated as it
dates back in memorial time. The advent of colonial laws and regulations during
Germany Rule in 1891, however, further put stringent measures to control the use of
wildlife and local communities were in part put aside (Tanzania wildlife Policy 1998,
pg. 1). Furthermore, after impendence, Tanzania enacted a law (Wildlife Act no. 12 of
1974), which put more stringent measure on the use of wildlife. To this law, wildlife
is a government trophy even if it is found on a community land. Thus, the use of
wildlife without a prior notice to the Government is termed as illegal hunting or
poaching and whoever caught would likely be punished according to the law.
To regulate the off-take of wildlife, protected areas were set aside with a major
concern to maintain wildlife and their habitats for present and future generation
(Sungusia, 2010). Protected area is as a geographical space that is clearly defined,
recognized, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means to achieve
the long-time conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural
values (Day et al. 2012). In Tanzania, wildlife policy clearly classifies wildlife
conservation areas in seven categories: national park, game reserve, game-controlled
area, forest reserve, nature reserve, The Multiple Land use: Ngorongoro conservation
Area, Open Controlled Area. In all these categories, wildlife conservation seems as
1
the role of government and conservators. This is not the case. Wildlife conservation
should a responsibility of the communities too.
In 2002, the government saw the potential of local community in conservation and
proposed a new conservation category: the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
These areas are established outside of core-protected areas, where “local people will
have full mandate of managing and benefiting from their conservation efforts, through
community-based programmes utilization while guaranteeing sustainable wildlife
conservation” (Goldman, 2003). The areas are governed by the Tanzania Wildlife
Management Authority-TAWA in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
(MNRT) largely control wildlife conservation in WMAs. It is in this category where
local communities’ contribution in conservation can be fully assessed.
It is increasingly becoming clear that the top-down approach to wildlife management
which emphasises strict protection of species and habitat has not always achieved its
stated objectives (Brown and Wyckoff-Baird, 1992 in IIED, 1994). Faced with the
ecological crisis of the 1980’s, famine and deteriorating wild animal populations and
habitats, conservationists have been forced to reassess their ideologies and methods.
In the meantime, community involvement in conservation is seem as a sustainable
solution.
Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) has been widely
promoted as a strategy that aims to conserve biodiversity, while simultaneously
enhancing rural livelihoods. The underlying theory argues that devolving control of
natural resources to local communities improves households' access to and
management of those resources, thereby improving the resource base and their
benefits to communities (Lund,2017). Since the 1990s CBNRM has been
2
implemented across the developing world and continues to be an important and
expanding conservation strategy (Bowler,2019). Additionally, CBNRM provides a
potential platform those other conservation strategy, such as Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and biodiversity offsets, can
build from (Robinson,2016). Despite the popularity of CBNRM there is limited
evidence that it leads to improved conservation outcomes, and even less evidence of
any socioeconomic benefits (Bowler,2019)
1.1. Problem Statement (the problem is not well stated) and justification
Understanding community’s perceptions towards conservation is the key to improve
wildlife management. As result, WMAs in Tanzania were set for the community to
help conserve wildlife outside the protected areas and improve livelihood through
income generated from wildlife use (WWF, 2014). Nonetheless, this contribution has
not been realised. As a result, local communities perceive wildlife conservation as a
legal obligation rather than an economic and social advantage or opportunity
(Shemwetta and Kideghesho 2000).
Failure of wildlife conservation is likely contributed by community not full
participating in conservation practices. Consequently, this threatens community’s
livelihood and puts local people in legal pressure due to increasing human-wildlife
conflicts. Tessema et al. (2010) note that human-wildlife conflicts can only be
alleviated when local communities perceive wildlife conservation as their role and not
legal obligations. Wildlife conservation is often compromised when the locals
‘livelihoods are threatened (Mir et al., 2015; Mogomotsi, 2019). Negative attitudes
toward wildlife often promote retaliatory killings of wild animals that undermine
conservation sustainability (Mogomotsi, 2019). In this view, there is a need to
3
understand the attitudes of communities in proximity to wildlife and to explore
responses to wildlife conservation. Studies have argued that costs associated with
conservation (like crop damage, livestock predation and human death and injury) by
wildlife fuel the communities’ negative attitudes toward wildlife, while benefits such
as game meat promote positive attitudes (Carter et al., 2014; Mir et al., 2015). These
paradigms should not be generalized as each community react to wildlife differently.
Contact between wildlife and humans tend to be negative on the agricultural sector in
many rural communities (Statistics Botswana, 2019). Mir et al. (2015, p. 392) note
that “…attitudes toward wildlife vary because factors affecting attitudes such as
interactions with wildlife are spatially heterogeneous”. Despite the benefits of
Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programs, threats posed
by wildlife to property and human life may lead to negative attitudes toward wildlife
and nullify all benefits (Mogomotsi, 2019). People living close to wildlife resources
bear substantial costs for conservation Zuze,2009), and thus should be asked to
proposed possible ways to conserve wildlife harmoniously. Therefore, studies that
aim to assess the perception of local community towards conservation should be
conducted more often to update conservation strategies and general management
plans.
1.3. Objectives:
1.3.1 General Objective
This study aims to assess the contribution of local communities to wildlife
conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania
1.3.2 Specific objectives
4
i. To assess the perception of local communities towards wildlife in Burunge wildlife
management area.
ii. To determine ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in Burunge
wildlife management area.
iii. To identify challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife in Burunge
wildlife management area.
1.4. Main Research Questions
i. How do local communities perceive wildlife conservation in Burunge wildlife
management area?
ii.What ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in Burunge wildlife
management area?
iii.What are the challenges local communities face in conserving wildlife in Burunge
wildlife management area?
1.5 Significance of the study
According to wildlife Policy of Tanzania of 1998 community participation is
necessary in such a way that policy has dedicate about three quarters of its strategies
to the matter. Thus, the findings of this study are expected to provide insight on how
best local communities can be involved in conservation from their perceptions and not
from top-down approach.
1.6 Organization of the research report
5
This research report is organized into three chapters. Chapter one provides a setting of
the problem that will be investigated. It presents different sections which are:
background information to the problem, statement of the problem, and objectives, and
research questions, significance of the study and Organization of the study. Chapter
two deals with literature review which develops further understanding on
contributions of local communities in wildlife conservation. Then chapter describes
the model and theories in relation to the contributions of local communities in wildlife
conservation. Chapter three presents the methodology, describing different methods
and techniques which were used to carry out this study. A justification for each
method and technique will be presented and specific research methods employed will
be briefly discussed.
6
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introdction
This chapter reviews the literature on contribution of local communities to wildlife
conservation outside protected areas. The chapter first presents definitions of key
terms and concept, then theoretical literature review and finally presents the
conceptual framework and research gap.
2.2 Definition of key Concepts
2.2.1 Local Community
Mattessich and Monsey (2004) define community as a group of people who live
within a same geographical area and have social and psychological ties with each
other and with the place where they live. Thus, in this study, local communities are a
group of people who live adjacent and voluntarily agreed to conserve wildlife in
Buringe WMA for the purpose of sharing benefit accrued from conservation.
2.2.2 Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their
habitats. It also involves conservation of endangered and/ or keystone species either
ex-situ or in-situ.
2.2.3 Protected Areas (PAs)
Protected Area is defined as geographical space that recognized, dedicated and
managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term
conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values (IUCN,
2008). In Tanzania, protected areas include: national parks, wilderness areas,
7
community management areas, nature reserves, game reserves, forest reserves and
antiquities sites.
2.2.4 Community Conservation
Is the art of involving local community in wildlife conservation. It has been reckoned
differently depending on the nature resources conserved. Community-based
conservation approach came after realizing that central government alone could not
sustainably conserve wildlife without involving local people. Community
Conservation is a new innovation in Tanzania aiming at empowering local people to
manage and benefit from wildlife resources on their lands.
2.2.5 Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
According to the Tanzania Wildlife Policy (1998) that was revised in 2007, WMA
refers to the strategy to protect established ecosystems like land and waters with high
potentials for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing and other
compatible and sustainable uses that involves local community in conserving wildlife
in their village land outside core protected Reserves, also permitting use of the same
resources sustainably for community benefits. According to Bachubila (2017),
Wildlife Management Area is a village land set aside for the conservation of wildlife
with the purpose of enabling local communities in the participation of protection and
utilization of wildlife resources.
2.2: Literature Review
2.2.6 Perception of Local Communities Towards Wildlife Conservation
Community-based natural resources management (in Tanzania: community-based
wildlife conservation and community-based forest management) (conservation by the
people) (e.g. Hulme and Murphree, 2011; Western et al., 2004): aims at the
8
conservation of „natural resources or biodiversity protection by, for and with the local
people‟ (Murphree, 2004). The responsibility and benefits of biological resources rest
with the local community, while the government gives advice and maintains an
enabling policy framework (Hulme and Murphree, 2011; Western et al., 2014). The
central idea in the community-based conservation approach is the devolution of
control of natural resources to local communities, as distinct from protectionism and
the segregation of people and nature (Western et al., 2014).
The park outreach, community-based conservation, and co-management regimes are
commonly referred to as participatory management of natural resources. The
assumption underlying participatory approaches in natural resources management is
that, if local communities derive some benefits from conservation, they will be more
likely to support the conservation of biodiversity (Wells and Brandon, 2012).
2.4.2 Ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife
Benefit sharing has been designed as a strategy to offset conservation costs and build
support for biodiversity conservation among local communities (Adams et al., 2004;
Western et al., 2004). It is necessary that the benefits should match the extent and
nature of the costs. Inequitable sharing of the costs and benefits of conservation is an
obvious challenge that needs to be appropriately addressed in the management of
PAs, as it often affects the attitude of people towards conservation (Arjunan et al.,
2006; Gillingham and Lee, 2009). Attitudinal studies are increasingly being used to
evaluate local peoples‟ perceptions towards conservation, and enable PA management
to create appropriate strategies (Gillingham and Lee, 2009; Holmes, 2009;Kaltenborn
et al., 2011; Kideghesho et al., 2007). Waylen et al. (2009) argue that „attitude change
is often the only tool available to conservationists when other approaches such as
9
regulations are ineffective‟. Nonetheless, some studies show that positive attitudes
alone may not directly translate into friendly conservation behaviour (Holmes, 2009;
Waylen et al.,2009)
2.4.3 Challenges facing local communities to wildlife conservation
Local people use various overt and covert „resistance methods to challenge the
hegemony of conservation imposed by protected areas authorities‟ (Norgrove and
Hulme, 2006). In addition to poaching and killing wildlife, these methods may
include destroying government property, extracting resources illegally, spreading
false information (Shafer, 2009), destroying resources (Harkness, 2000), and
threatened or actual violence against conservation staff (Brockington, 2004;
Neumann, 2008; Norgrove and Hulme, 2006; Robbins et al., 2006). Methods may
also take the form of illegally using land in a protected area (Li, 2007; Cavanagh and
Benjaminsen, forthcoming), destroying protected area infrastructure (Meyerson,
2008), and collaborating with poachers (Western, 2004).
Acts of resistance against conservation initiatives are usually carried out by
marginalised people who suffer the costs of conservation and do not have the ability
to circumvent the system through bribing officials or accessing political power
(Holmes, 2007). Resistance to conservation in its various forms may also be seen as
what Nixon (2011) calls „slow violence‟, which stands in contrast to spectacular and
instantaneous violence. Slow violence is gradual and incremental, and leads to
„delayed destruction that is dispersed across time and space, an attritional violence
that is typically not viewed as violence at all‟ (Nixon, 2011). The same author
10
mentions dispossession caused by the establishment of areas for environmental
protection as an example of slow violence.
2.5 Wildlife Policy
Tanzania’s 1998 Wildlife Policy (Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
[MNRT], 1998) introduced the concept of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The
policy defines WMAs as areas on village land set aside for wildlife conservation.
WMAs aim to improve wildlife conservation and rural communities’ livelihoods by
giving communities full mandate to manage and benefit from wildlife. The concept
and objective of WMAs are maintained in the revised 2007 Wildlife policy (MNRT,
2007). Currently, there are about 38 WMAs at different stages of development
covering about 13% of Tanzania’s total land area (Bluwstein & Lund, 2018 )
2.6 Research gap
Various studies have been done on issues related to human wildlife conservation.
Mogomotsi et al,(2020) did a study on Factors influencing community participation
in wildlife conservation in Botswana and concluded that, Communities currently do
not value wildlife as a resource but rather as a government property that destroys their
livelihoods and drives them into poverty. Kicheleri et al,(2018) conducted the on
institutional Rhetoric Versus Local Reality in Burunge in Tanzania and revealed that,
local people, contrary to the rhetoric livelihood enhancing objectives of the 1998
Wildlife policy, felt disenfranchised and dispossessed because of the WMA. Also
Boggs,(2000) did a study on the Community power, participation, conflict and
development choice: Community wildlife conservation in the Okavango region of
Northern Botswana and concluded that; Communities living adjacent protected areas
are not always concerned with monetary benefits or the tangible costs of wildlife
11
conservation .None of these studies focused on the contribution of local communities
to wildlife conservation.To fill this gap, this study
intended to find out the
contribution of local communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in
Tanzania, the case of Burunge wildlife management area.
12
CHAPTER THREE
3.0. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area
This study was be conducted in Burunge Wildlife Management Area (Fig.3.1).
Burunge (WMA), is in Babati District, Manyara region in Northern Tanzania.
Burunge WMA was gazzetted as a WMA by the Wildlife Division in 2006. Ten
villages namely as Mwada Ngolei, Vilima Vitatu, Minjingu, Kakoi, Olasiti, Maweni,
Manyara, Magara and Sangaiwe contributed their land area of about 24,319 hectares
for the Burunge WMM. About 30,073 inhabitants live adjacent BWMA and expect to
full participate in conserving wildlife. To the South, BWMA is bordered by Tarangire
National Park while to the north is borded by Lake Manyara Park (LMNP) and
Manyara Ranch. The local community adjacent BWMA practice different land uses
activities, but mainly agriculturists and pastoralists. Main ethnic tribes are Warusha,
Mbugwe, Maasai and Barbaig. Despite the fact that the BWMA is made by 10
villages, this research report conducted in Mwada. This village is located within
Wildlife Migratory corridor to the water point: lake Burunge.
13
Figure 3.1 The map of BWMA showing the study area, Mwada village. Source:
http://babatidc.blogspot.com/
3.2. Research Design
Research design is the plan and structure of an investigation that is visualized by the
researcher, so as to obtain answers to research questions (Cooper and Schindler 2003).
There are different types of research design such as descriptive, case study and
experimental research design. This study used case study research design. A case
study gives a fair and accurate account of the case in such a way that readers are
allowed to penetrate the superficial record and check the researcher’s interpretations
by examining evidence on which the case study is built (Kothari, 2011)
3.3. Targeted Population
14
The study involved 198 heads of house hold in Mwada village. 2 village leaders
(chairmen and Village executive officers), 56 Rangers and 1 Babati district game
officer.
3.4. Sampling Procedure
Sampling procedure is the systematic procedure of forming the manageable sample
size that is investigated to answer the research questions (Cooper and Schindler,
2003).In this study both purposive and simple random sampling methods were used.
3.4.1. Simple Random Sampling Techniques (SRS)
A simple random sampling is a process of selecting sample from a larger sample or
population, giving all individuals in the sample an equal chance to be chosen (Laerd,
2012). This study use simple random sampling in selecting respondents from heads of
household and game rangers.This technique applied due to the fact that heads of
household and game rangers are many and every individual has an equal chance to
participate in this study.
3.4.2 Purposive Sampling Technique
Purposive sampling refers to as judgment, selective or subjective sampling. Stephanie,
(2015) described that a purposive sample is where a researcher selects a sample based
on their knowledge about the study and population. In this study, Village leaders and
District game officer were selected purposely.
3.5. Sample Size
Sample size refers to the number of items selected from the population to constitute a
sample (Kothari, 2009). It is explained by Gay and Diehl, (1992) that, minimum
15
acceptable sample size for descriptive research would be 10% of population. This
study used 10% of entire population to get number of sample size (Table 3.1).
Table 3.1: Sample size
Respondents
Population
Sample Size
Sampling
Technique
Heads
of
house
hold
from 198
20
Mwada Village
Game Rangers
Simple
random
56
6
Simple
random
Village leaders (chairmen and 2
2
Purposive
1
1
Purposive
257
29
Village Executive Officer)
District Game Officer
TOTAL
Source: Researcher’s Computation, 2021
3.6. Data collection methods
3.6.1. Questionnaires
A questionnaire consists of a number of questions printed or typed in a definite order
on a form or set of forms which is administered to respondents for them to fill on their
own (Mbogo et al. 2012). Rule and John (2011) defined questionnaires as printed sets
16
of field questions to which participants respond on their own (self-administered) on
the presence of the researcher. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires used to
gather data from the head of household and game rangers (Appendix I).
Questionnaires was formulated from specific objectives such as contribution of local
communities to wildlife conservation, the challenges facing local communities in
wildlife conservation and the measures used to curb challenges facing local
communities in wildlife conservation in Burunge wildlife management area. In order
to obtain sufficient data from head of households and game rangers, the researcher
used questionnaires as a tool so as to save time and to give respondents enough time
to fill questionnaires confidentially.
3.7
Data Analysis, Interpretation and Presentation
Data analysis has been defined by Rwegoshora (2006) as to organize, provide
structure and elicit meaning. Qualitative data analyzed by using content analysis.
Content analysis means analyzing the information collected through interviews in
order to identify the main themes that emerge from respondents (Kumar, 2005).
Qualitative data from open ended questionnaires was systematically coded, and
classified into broad descriptive categories exploring themes, meanings and/or issues
that emerged from the information gained from interviewing. The data presented in
the form of text.Quantitative data are data which are in the form of numbers.
Quantitative analyzed by using descriptive statistics where by simple statistical
analysis such as comparisons and percentages were used to analyze data. Statistical
Package for Social Science (SPSS) were applied to analyze the coded information of
the questionnaire in this study. The data collected from this study were presented by
using pie charts, tables and graphs.
17
3.8 Validity and Reliability of the Research Instruments.
3.8.1. Validity of the research instruments
Validity refers to the success of a method in probing and/or assessing what it sets out
to probe or assess (Taylor et al. 2011). To ensure validity of data in this study, the
researcher deliberately make use of triangulation method in sampling and data
collection methods. This means that different methods of sampling and data collection
were employed. The use of triangulation help to demonstrate validity and opened up
new perspectives about the topic under investigation, which concerned local attitudes
towards conservation of natural tourism resources. The researcher alocated and made
use of copyright and published documents that related to the data that assisted in
validation. The researcher also conducted the pilot study.
3.9.2. Reliability of the research instruments
Reliability is a criterion that refers to the consistence of data emanating from the use
of a particular research method (Taylor et al., 2011). It is the extent to which data
collection technique(s) yield consistent findings. In other words, as Saunders et al.,
(2016) further share, similar observations
made or conclusion reached by other
researchers or where there is transparence in how sense was made from raw data to
ensure reliability. The use of multiple tools to collect data including questionnaires,
interviews and direct observation let alone documentary reviews ensured that
authority and reputation of data sources for this study were well assessed to this
enhanced reliability.
3.10
Ethical Issues
18
The most common way of defining "ethics": Are norms for conduct that distinguish
between acceptable and unacceptable behavior (David 2015). Ethical issues is
described by Smith et al., (2015) that, for any research investigation involving human
subjects, there must be careful consideration of ethical issues that may arise in the
planning, conduct, and reporting of the study. Ethical aspects were strictly observed in
order to achieve the research objectives. Respondents were informed of the purpose of
the research as being for academic purposes only. It observed that confidentiality and
anonymity on findings adhered to. Consent will be sought from respondents before
interviewing them. Impartiality and objectivity while conducting research adhered to.
Participants right to withdraw and to decline to take part in a particular aspect of
research will be respected. The researcher ensured that there is no cause of harm or
intrusion on participants’ privacy. It ensured that no personal assumptions or opinions
of the researcher shall be recorded without the consent of the respondent. Also the
researcher obtained a letter from the University (Open University of Tanzania) to
introduce herself to Villages Chairmen, and Village Executive Officers from two
selected villages and Game officer from Babati District.
19
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
20
This chapter presents the findings and analysis of the data obtained from the field.
The chapter starts by presenting socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.
It proceeds with presentation of information on the contribution of local communities
to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania. Finally it presents the
findings on the perception of local communities towards wildlife in Burunge wildlife
management area, .ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in Burunge
wildlife management area and the challenges local communities face to conserving
wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area.
.
4.2 Social Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents
The information covered in this section includes age, gender and education level of
the respondents. The information presented here focus on 29 respondents.
4.2.1 Age of the respondents
The age of the respondents were established (Table 4.1) in Mwada Village in Burunge
wildlife management area where the research took place, with the aim of knowing the
age structure of respondents. According to Busnayake and Gunaratne (2002), the age
of a person is a factor that usually explain his/or her level of production,
understanding and efficiency. Hence table 4.1 provides a clear structure of the age of
the respondents. The age of respondents was categorized into four groups which
21
ranged between the age of 18 years and 51 years plus (Table 4.1). The grouping of
age based on consideration of the economically active group which is from the age of
15 years old to 64 years (URT, 1991). The investigation of respondents‟ age was
important due to diverse implications each group had and social setting which may
subsequently have regarding to involvement in wildlife conservation. The majority of
the respondents interviewed (48%) were aged between 31 and 40 years. The other age
category, frequencies and percentages are as presented in Table 4.2.1.
Table 4.2.1: Age of the respondents
Age category
Frequency
Percentage
18-30
9
31
31-40
11
38
41-50
6
21
51 + Above
3
10
Total
29
100
Source : Field data, 2022
4.2.2 Education Level of the Respondents
Education perceived as among the factors that influence an individual‟s perception of
an intervention before making decision. Understanding the educational levels of the
22
respondents was an important factor in assessing their skills and knowledge of
respondents for judging about different matters. The study revealed that, majority of
respondents 11 (38%) had attained collage/technical education, 17% attained
secondary education, 31% attained Primary education, 7% had attained university
level of education and7% had no formal education (Table 4.2.2).
Table 4.2.2: Education Distribution of the respondents
Education Level
Frequency
Percentage
Non formal education
2
7
Primary education
9
31
Secondary education
5
17
College/technical education
11
38
University education
2
7
Total
29
100
Source : Field data, 2022
4.2.3 Gender of the Respondents
In order to have good representation of gender, gender of the respondents was taken
into consideration where by respondents were asked to provide their personal
information based on gender. Thus, 55.2% of employees were females. and the
remaining 44.8% were males.
23
Figure 4.2.1: Distribution of respondents by gender
Source: Field survey, 2022
4.3: Perceptions of local communities towards wildlife conservation
24
The first research objective sought to asses the perception of local communities
towards wildlife conservation. Table 4.3 shows the number of respondents and their
perceptions.
Table 4.3: Perceptions of local communities towards wildlife conservation
Perceptions of local communities towards Respondents
Percentage
wildlife conservation
Local Communities like Conservation
4
20%
Conservation has many benefits to local 6
30%
Communities
Conservation is the source of human/wildlife 3
15%
conflicts
Communities are the source of human/wildlife 5
25%
conflicts
The successes of wildlife conservation depend 2
10%
on local communities’ corporation.
20
Total
Source: Field survey, 2022
25
100%
The findings show that the perception of local communities towards wildlife
conservation are: - Local Communities like Conservation, Conservation has many
benefits to local Communities, Conservation is the source of human/wildlife conflicts,
Communities are the source of human/wildlife conflicts and The successes of wildlife
conservation depend on local communities’ corporation. Similar results were
observed by Baloi (2019) who confirmed that the ways in which the conservation
area management and the local community work together results in the community
having a certain behaviour (perceptions and attitudes) towards adapting wildlife
conservation.. Also this result matches with finding done by Mabunda (2014) who
revealed that, there are several social and economic opportunities (e.g. employment
creation, income generation, biodiversity conservation) that come with wildlife
conservation.
4.4: Ways in which local communities can use to conserve wildlife
The second research objective sought to determine ways local communities can use to
conserve wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area. Table 4.4 shows the number
of respondents and their comments.
Table 4.4: Ways in which local communities can use to conserve wildlife
Ways in which local communities can use to Respondents
Percentage
conserve wildlife
To educate other colleagues on the importance 2
of conservation
26
10%
To report any action that leads to poaching of 4
20%
wildlife both plants and wildlife
To
be
ready
to
receive
advice
from 7
35%
conservationists on how we can better avoid
human
wildlife
conflicts
for
sustainable
conservation
To be ready to re- allocated to give space for 5
25%
conservation
To protect environment so as to avoid wildlife to 2
10%
run away.
20
100%
Total
Source: Field survey, 2022
The findings show that the ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in
Burunge wildlife management area are: - To report any action that leads to poaching
of wildlife both
plants and wildlife, To be ready to receive advice from
conservationists on how we can better avoid human wildlife conflicts for sustainable
conservation, To be ready to re- allocated to give space for conservation, To educate
other colleagues on the importance of conservation and To protect environment so as
to avoid wildlife to run away. The findings also collaborate with Mabula (2014) who
argue that there are increasing calls for rural communities to consider wildlife-based
27
conservation programs where they are possible as a land-use option, particularly for
wildlife rich areas. However, success of wildlife-conservation depends on community
cooperation and positive attitudes towards wildlife conservation The findings also
comply with the study done by Olubayo (2016) that, success wildlife conservation
depends on communities seeing more value in managing their wildlife on a long-term
sustainable basis than in pursuing short-term exploitation.
4.5 Challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife
The third research objective sought to identify challenges local communities face to
conserving wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area. Table 4.5 shows the
number of respondents and their comments.
Table 4.5: Challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife
Challenges
local
communities
face
to Respondents
Percentage
conserving wildlife
Low level of conservation
Threats
to
report
poachers
because
4
20%
of 2
10%
superstition fear
Some poachers are part of friends and relatives
3
15%
Scared of the law that I will have to be in the 4
20%
court to provide witness
28
Human wildlife conflicts
7
35%
20
100%
Total
Source: Field survey, 2022
The findings show that the challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife
in Burunge wildlife management area are: - Low level of conservation, Threats to
report poachers because of superstition fear, Some poachers are part of friends and
relatives, Scared of the law that I will have to be in the court to provide witness and
Human wildlife conflicts. The study done by Shibia (2018) confirmed that low
participation in conservation programs, past experience of human-wildlife conflict,
increased number of crop farmers and illiteracy were found to be the negative
determinants of attitudes and perceptions on resources use in Kenya. Similar findings
are explained by Anthony and Moldovan (2016) who states that lack of interaction,
poor communication, and unfulfilled promises in terms of financial compensation,
costs and disadvantages of PAs with regard to damage-causing animals (DCAs) can
cause confusion and wariness with respect to the purposes of a PA and its alleged
commitment to improve relationships with its neighbors.
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Overview
29
This chapter provides a summary, conclusion and recommendation of this study on
the contribution of local communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas
in Tanzania. The conclusions and recommendations are based on the findings
whereby summary, summarize the whole work from the title, study problem,
objectives, significance of the study, literature review, research methodology as well
as findings of the study per specific objective.
5.2 Summary
The general objective of this study was to assess the contribution of local
communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania. Specifically
the study aimed to assess the perception of local communities towards wildlife in
Burunge wildlife management area, .ways local communities can use to conserve
wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area and the challenges local communities
face to conserving wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area. This study used a
case study research design whereby both qualitative and quantitative studies were
used. Population in this study involved Game rangers, Head of house hold from
Mweda Village,Village chairman as well as District game officer. The researcher
included a sample size of 29 total numbers of respondents. The researcher used simple
randomly and purposive sampling methods in selecting a sample. Also the researcher
used questionnaire as the method of data collection method.
30
The study found that the perception of local communities towards wildlife
conservation are: - Local Communities like Conservation, Conservation has many
benefits to local Communities, Conservation is the source of human/wildlife conflicts,
Communities are the source of human/wildlife conflicts and The successes of wildlife
conservation depend on local communities’ corporation.Also the study reveals that
ways local communities can use to conserve wildlife in Burunge wildlife management
area are: - To report any action that leads to poaching of wildlife both plants and
wildlife, To be ready to receive advice from conservationists on how we can better
avoid human wildlife conflicts for sustainable conservation, To be ready to reallocated to give space for conservation, To educate other colleagues on the
importance of conservation and To protect environment so as to avoid wildlife to run
away. facing social workers are: - low understanding capacity of community
members, ignorance of the villagers about responsibilities of social workers ,shift of
clients from one place to unknown places, poor corporations from local leaders and
Insufficient information from society and their leaders. Furthermore the study
identifies challenges local communities face to conserving wildlife in Burunge
wildlife management area are: - Low level of conservation, Threats to report poachers
because of superstition fear, Some poachers are part of friends and relatives, Scared of
the law that I will have to be in the court to provide witness and Human wildlife
conflicts.
5.3 Conclusion
According to the findings of this study the study concluded that perception of local
communities towards wildlife conservation are: - Local Communities like
31
Conservation, Conservation has many benefits to local Communities, Conservation is
the source of human/wildlife conflicts, Communities are the source of human/wildlife
conflicts and The successes of wildlife conservation depend on local communities’
corporation Also the Study concluded that the ways local communities can use to
conserve wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area are: - To report any action
that leads to poaching of wildlife both plants and wildlife, To be ready to receive
advice from conservationists on how we can better avoid human wildlife conflicts for
sustainable conservation, To be ready to re- allocated to give space for conservation,
To educate other colleagues on the importance of conservation and To protect
environment so as to avoid wildlife to run away. facing social workers are: - low
understanding capacity of community members, ignorance of the villagers about
responsibilities of social workers ,shift of clients from one place to unknown places,
poor corporations from local leaders and Insufficient information from society and
their leaders.
However, the study concluded that the challenges local communities face to
conserving wildlife in Burunge wildlife management area are: - Low level of
conservation, Threats to report poachers because of superstition fear, Some poachers
are part of friends and relatives, Scared of the law that I will have to be in the court to
provide witness and Human wildlife conflicts. This study had revealed that such
negative attitude of local people’s belief towards wildlife conservation is highly
contributed by high illiterate rate of the residents where no formal education
accounted 7%, Primary school leavers were 31% while secondary school leavers were
about 17% and University graduates were 7%. Where the quick look at this figure
shows the majority of residents to be lacking higher Education the tool and the key to
attain more knowledge of conservation issues and involvement with other
32
stakeholders, there is a need to impart conservation education alongside to best
conservation techniques.
Through provision of free education, the Tanzanian policy of which has been
introduced recently to provide free Education from Primary to Secondary schools
level for all Tanzanian children. Going to school must be of matter concern for every
child in order to fight against the rate of literacy through that policy. The government
must strongly enforce it to make sure every child is going to school. The researcher
finds the plan that will reduce the challenge of low level of conservation because
through education the bad traditional beliefs that are not respecting nature like
wildlife
poaching will be avoided as currently local people (villagers) are still
practicing such beliefs of killing wild animals for Heroism or bravely.
The local community is sharing drinking water with wildlife especially in Burunge
WMA Area where livestock haven’t permanent water sources, therefore there is the
need to construct dams or wells for livestock and wildlife within respective areas in
order to avoid wild animal visitation the situation that cause human/wildlife Conflict
in Burunge WMA.
5.4 Recommendation
Based on the results, findings and conclusions, the followings are the
recommendations.
5.4.1 Recommendation for Practice
(i) The Local people adjacent to protected areas specifically in WMA should be
involved in
planning so as to improve wildlife conservation. This is due to the fact
that most respondents complain that local people were not involved during the
33
establishment of Burunge WMA. Also to reduce the problem of human/wildlife
conflicts, local communities are advised to construct strong shed and durable barbed
fence wire that will protect the livestock from predation.
(ii) Participation of the all stakeholders and members of the community at different
levels and professionals in related disciplines of wildlife management, livestock
department, Natural Resources Management need to work together to sensitize and
educate each other through dialogues to come out with one problem solution on
wildlife conservation.
(iii) Village Community members have to elect their leaders to avoid untrustworthy
leaders whom aren’t transparent to community revenues accrued from Wildlife
Utilizations projects.
5.4.2 Recommendation for Policy Maker
The government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
should put emphasize on education about community based conservation since local
people are among of key stakeholders in conservation.
However the study recommends that, there is a need for compensation towards
wildlife effects since it affects livelihood of local people contrary to Tanzania
Wildlife Policy (1998) that asserts non compensation leading to damages caused by
wildlife. Also, wildlife habitat should be fenced so as to avoid wildlife visitation to
local people residences and also the provision of education about community based
conservation since local people are among the key stakeholders in conservation.
To make wildlife conservation to be sustainably, there is a need to find out possible
solutions to involve local community in conservation education programs.
34
5.4.3 Suggestions for Further Studies
Another study of the same nature should be conducted in other WMA areas for
comparison purposes and to provide more evidence on contribution of local
communities to wildlife conservation outside protected areas in Tanzania.
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MNRT (2007). Wildlife policy of Tanzania (revised version). M. o. n. r. a. Tourism.
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38
APPENDICES
APENDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE HEADS OF HOUSE HOLD
My name is Jehovaness Rafael Sarakikya, the student from the Open University of
Tanzania studying bachelor degree in tourism management. I am conducting a study
“on the contribution of local communities to wildlife conservation in Burunge wildlife
management area”. The information is required for research leading to the award of
Bachelor Degree of Tourism Management of the Open University of Tanzania. The
questionnaire seeks your opinions on how you perceive wildlife conservation in
Burunge wildlife Management Area, ways that you use to conserve wildlife and
finally the challenges you are facing in conserving wildlife in this WMA?
39
All the information is for this research only and your responses will be treated in
confidential. You are kindly requested to fill the following questions in the best of
your knowledge. Thank you for you participation.
(A)DEMORGRAPHIC INFORMATION
What is your Age (tick the appropriate ).
18 - 30……………………..….. (
)
31 - 43………………………… (
)
44 - 56………………………… (
)
Above 56 years……………...… ( )
Level of education (tick in the table)
Non
formal Primary
education
education
Secondary
College
University
education
education
education
Gender
40
Male
( )
Female (
)
Employment / Occupational status (Tick in the appropriate)
A. Employed
(
)
B. Self-employed ( )
C. Unemployed
(
)
D. Others e.g. retired (
)
OBJECTIVE 1:
Are you aware that all wildlife is the government trophy and that you are not allowed
to take or kill illegally unless if it is for life defense? YES/NO/I DIDNT KNOW
Is there any member in your family engaged with wildlife conservation? YES/NO
How do you perceive wildlife conservation in the Burunge Wildlife Management
Area? (Please tick (√) SA= N= D= SD=
SN
Perception
of
local Strongly
communities
to Agree
conservation in BWMA
41
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
1
I don’t like conservation at
all
2
Conservation
has
many
benefits to me and the
adjacent community
3
Conservation is the source
of huma-wildlife conflicts
4
Communities
are
the
sources of human-wildlife
conflicts
OBJECTIVE 2:
What ways do you use to conserve wildlife in BWMA? (Tick the appropriate even
more than one)
I education other colleagues on the importance of conservation
I report any actions that lead to poaching of wildlife both plants and animals
I am not ready to be re-allocated to give space for conservation
I am ready to receive advice from conservationists on how we can better avoid
human-wildlife conflicts for sustainable conservation
Others, please specify
42
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
……………
OBJECTIVE 3:
Do you face any challenges in conserving wildlife and its habitats in the BWMA?
YES/NO
What are the challenges facing local communities in conserving wildlife in the
Burunge Wildlife Management Area?
Low level of conservation
Threat to report poachers because of superstition (which and witchcraft) fear.
Some poachers are part of friends and relatives
Scared of the law that I will have to be in the court to provide witness
Others, please specify
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
……………
43
GENERAL KNOWLDGE:
(D) What benefit do you get from Burunge Wildlife Management Area?
……….…………………………………..…,………………………………..,
Appendix II
RESEARCH TIME PLAN
S/N Activity
2022
2022
June July
1
Proposal writing
2
Proposal writing
3
Data collection
4
Data processing &
August
analysis
5
Study
data
presentation
6
Submissions
of
44
Sept
October
Nov
Dec
study results
APPENDIX III : RESEARCH BUDGET
S/N
Items
Total amount(Tsh)
1
Stationary and Internet access
80,000/-
2
Data collection
390,000/-
3
Typing and printing
100,000/-
4
Transport
90,000/-
5
Meals and accommodations
70,000/-
6
Final report writing
110,000/-
TOTAL
850,000/-
45