They say necessity is the mother of invention, and for WMAs facing mounting challenges with limited resources, getting inventive was not a choice; it was a necessity. At Honeyguide, we never set out to become "innovators." We simply needed to solve problems quickly while helping WMAs do more with less. Crops were being destroyed,
Boosting Efficiency in WMAs The Business of Community Conservation Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) are known by various names across Africa. In Tanzania, they are Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs); in Kenya and Uganda, they are referred to as Conservancies; and in Zambia, they are known as Community Resource Boards (CRBs). Despite the different labels, the
How the EU-Funded KUWA Project is Changing Lives in Kisungule For much of his life, Saidi Alfani, a small-scale farmer from Magazini village in the Kisungule Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Southern Tanzania, relied on traditional hunting to support his family. Like many in his community, Saidi viewed wildlife simply as a resource, unaware
Why Financial Transparency Matters in Community-Led Conservation Introduction What if conservation wasn’t a guessing game? What if every dollar meant to protect wildlife and support communities was tracked and transparent for all to see? Picture a village bordering a wildlife reserve where people and nature should thrive together. A new conservation project arrives, promising
Photo above: Lake Burunge photo Monica Dalmaso Burunge Wildlife Management Area: A Model of Community-Led Conservation Success Background Established in 2004, the Burunge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Northern Tanzania is a community-owned conservation haven. Strategically positioned between the iconic Tarangire and Manyara National Parks, Burunge serves as a critical migratory corridor within the
Introduction: In the realm of conservation, success isn't just a matter of passion; it's a matter of numbers. Imagine a simple calculation: 20+40+40+100=200. While I may not be a mathematician, even these straightforward computations reveal the essence of community-based conservation. In this blog, we delve into the crucial role of financial sustainability in creating
Across the world, new moms face the universal dilemma of finding the balance between taking care of their children, working, and day-to-day responsibilities. If you are a parent, you will probably agree that the needs of your children come before your own. It’s no different for Zainab Matumbi, an accountant from Kimbanda WMA, who has
With over 30,000 hectares invested, with revenues exceeding half a million dollars, over 15,000 shareholders expecting a return on their investment, this is a complex business, it is the business of conservation. Wildlife Management Areas are social businesses, they require funding to operate and provide tangible benefits to the communities that surround them. As
Protection costs consume around 60% of the total operating budgets for many African conservation areas, be it national parks or the smaller community conservation areas. Most National Parks in Africa (such as the Serengeti) annually spend between 500-800 USD per square km for protection, we can see some of the more financially challenged protected
Late one night last week, the Makame Rangers were alerted by a member of the local community about an elephant that was stuck deep in a waterhole. The rangers found a young bull elephant stuck knee-deep in a pit of mud soup that could not climb out because it was so slippery and the banks
