Community-Based Conservation Using Wildlife Management Area Model in the Ruvuma Landscape in Tanzania: Entrepreneurial Myth or Reality?.

Abstract

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) under Tanzania WMA Regulations are entrepreneurial entities with the target to generate income to be shared with local communities forming the WMAs. This target has remained largely unrealized in the WMAs in the Southern Tanzania and hence entrepreneurial apprehensiveness amongst the WMAs. The objective of this study was to assess this economic anticipation and entrepreneurial performance of WMAs in the Ruvuma landscape. Five WMAs from Ruvuma region were involved in the study; Mbarang’andu and Kisungule WMAs from Namtumbo District; and three WMAs namely Chingoli, Kimbanda and Tunduru Tunduru district. From each WMA two villages were selected making a total of 10 villages. A sample of 100 households was randomly selected from a population of 35,063 households in 10 villages. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively in which t-test was performed. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Revenue records of the WMAs showed only Mbarang’andu and Tunduru WMAs have been generating income through trophy hunting since establishment. The actual income was found to be significantly different from the projected income in the business plan for both Mbarang’andu WMA and Tunduru WMA. The situation is desperate for Kimbanda, Kisungule and Chingoli WMAs with no income-generating activities since establishment. That is contrary to the economic anticipation putting a paradox, is this form of wildlife management an entrepreneurial myth of reality to these communities? Over ambitious resource management plans, lack of proper marketing and business plans, and low entrepreneurial capacities are the responsible factors for the economic shortfall of the WMAs in the Ruvuma landscape and recommendation is for deliberate efforts to address these underlying factors.