In most cases, the interactions results in adverse outcomes for one or both parties, such phenomenon are amplified by climate change. The outcomes including direct injury to people and wildlife as well as damage of personal properties, livelihood losses and other dire consequences for social–ecological systems.
Dr Elikana Kalumanga, Private Sector Engagement Manager from Research Triangle Institute (RTI International)—implementing partner for USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili project said they are also looking at climate change as an important area as it contributes to HWC.
“Climate change amplifies human wildlife conflicts and in other way hinders stakeholders as well as government efforts in protecting wildlife corridors. The non-extractive interactions between human and wildlife keeps on increasing following increasing demand for relevant services from both groups,” explained Dr Kilumanga when speaking at training to journalists from the Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET).
The training was part of Tuhifadhi Maliasili (“Preserve Natural Resources”) project supported by USAID. The $30.5 million, five-year conservation project aims to address the dynamics that threaten wildlife movement and the long-term preservation of biodiversity in Tanzania. The activity is implemented by RTI International—a non-profit research and global development institute.
The project is implemented in seven wildlife corridors— Kwakuchinja Corridor that connects Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem in Babati and Monduli districts, Manyara and Arusha regions, Amani- Nilo corridor connecting Amani Nature Reserve and Nilo Nature Forest Reserve in Muheza District, Tanga Region, Nyerere Selous-Udzungwa corridor that connects Nyerere Selous and Udzungwa Mountains National Parks in Ifakara, Morogoro Region, Ruaha Rungwa-Katavi corridor connecting Ruaha National Park, Rungwa Game Reserve, Inyonga and Kigosi Moyowosi-Burigi Chato corridor connecting Kigosi Moyowosi complex and Burigi Chato National Park (in Biharamulo and Kakonko districts in Kagera and Kigoma regions.
He said efforts will also be directed on tackling climate change through enhanced forest conservation whereas tree planting will be one of the initiatives. He added that provision of education to citizens would greatly help in reducing climate change impacts as well as enabling people to cope with it.
According to Dr Kilumanga, climate change is a global challenge whereas its negative effects can be seen in a number of sectors that touches people’s livelihood including agriculture, livestock keeping and the environment.
He added: “Dealing with human wildlife conflicts requires concerted efforts in ensuring protection of corridors. Keeping corridors safe enable wild animals to move freely in search of food and water. We are also working closely with the government in combating climate change as well as protecting wildlife corridors.”
Reuben Magandi, is the Conservation Officer from the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) he said they also participate in efforts geared at protecting corridors whereas a number of tree planting campaigns have been conducted in various regions.
Mgandi noted that they have been working with private and public institutions in managing wildlife corridors. He said to ensure safety of the corridors, it everyone’s responsibility to protect forests and other plants are at the danger of extinction.
“There have been incidents where people invade forests for agricultural and other human activities such as logging and charcoal making. It is important to educate the public on responsible environmental practices. Initiatives such as tree planting, seedling distribution to communities and schools, and the promotion of alternative income sources like beekeeping and honey harvesting would help in preserving our forests,” remarked the officer.
He emphasized that concerted efforts are required to protect and conserve vital resources, particularly species such as Dalbergia melanoxylon (Mpingo), Osyris lanceolata (Misandali), and Pterocarpus Tinctorius (Mikurungu). The tree species are endangered due to activities like illegal logging and charcoal production within protected forests.
To rescue forests, the agency has been working closely with communities surrounding protected forests by empowering them economically. He said assisting villagers to have alternative income generating activities reduces pressure on forests.
JET Executive Director, John Chikomo said that taking into considerations the importance of protecting corridors, the association collaborates with RTI International in providing education to Tanzanians on benefits of preserving both the environment corridors.
“We have been empowering journalists through training and filed visits at various corridors. These helps them to produce good story pieces and features on biodiversity conservation and climate change issues,” he said, adding, this is the third year since execution of the project started and there have been remarkable successes.
According to the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS 2021-2026), climate change affected wildlife whereas places that are known to hold water during the dry season for large mammals no longer hold water for dry season.
During dry seasons in 2009 and 2015 water dependent animals especially hippopotamus and crocodiles were often found crowded in small and few remaining water ponds impairing their physiological functions and many times becoming easy target by poachers and predators.
It said, due to climate change, human-wildlife conflicts have become a common phenomenon to crop raiding while wild animals roam around in search for pastures and water.
The animals commonly involved in these conflicts are hippopotamus, elephants and buffaloes. Serious lack of surface water in dry seasons of 2009/2010 and that of 2015 led to mortalities of hippopotamus and buffalo.
Continuing climate change impacts are likely to affect certain species related to particular ecological aspects of individual taxa, necessitating a species-based management approach.
Threats to biodiversity continue to increase as adverse impacts of climate change exacerbate.
The NCCS was developed in response to the growing concern of the negative impacts of climate change on the country’s social, economic, ecological, and physical environment. It covers adaptation, mitigation and cross-cutting interventions that focuses on enabling Tanzania to tackle challenges emanated from climate change at all fronts.
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