Researchers conducted a survey involving 267 households located near Mkomazi National Park in northern Tanzania, discovering that food security is significantly more critical than financial or educational security when it comes to motivating individuals to partake in poaching or illegal grazing activities within the park.
According to Edwin Sabuhoro, an assistant professor in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State, national parks in East Africa are essential for safeguarding endangered wildlife yet often do not adequately support local populations. Recent research led by Sabuhoro, alongside two Penn State doctoral students from East Africa, has revealed that poverty and inadequate food supply are primary factors driving poaching and other illegal acts in this park.
Under the leadership of Gasto Lyakurwa, a doctoral student specializing in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State, the researchers surveyed heads of households from eight villages adjacent to Mkomazi National Park. This survey aimed to understand their utilization of park land and examine their family’s food, financial, and educational security to identify which factors influenced illegal park use. Their findings were published in Conservation.
Mkomazi National Park spans over 1,250 square miles and serves as a habitat for rare and endangered species like elephants, lions, buffalo, and rhinoceroses. Since its establishment in 1951, the park has resulted in the displacement of numerous people into surrounding areas during two major events: one in the early 1950s and the other in the late 1980s.
Since the park’s inception and the creation of other protected zones in East Africa, park officials and rangers have typically viewed local communities as threats rather than potential allies in conservation efforts.
“For generations, the local population depended on this land for essential resources such as meat, traditional medicines, firewood, fish, and timber,” explained Lyakurwa. “These resources were vital for their survival, but they suddenly lost access to them. Although the locals express a connection to the wildlife, they clearly indicated that they would disregard park boundaries if they cannot provide food for themselves and their children.”
The tourism sector in the park, primarily fueled by visitors interested in witnessing large mammals, generates revenues managed by the national government. Some of this income is allocated to projects aimed at enhancing the lives of 45,000 residents living in 22 neighboring villages. While various government initiatives have concentrated on improving healthcare and education infrastructure, the study indicated that addressing food insecurity and poverty is crucial for fostering collaboration between the parks and local communities, as per the researchers.
Out of the 267 families surveyed, 253 relied on agriculture for their livelihoods, whether through crop cultivation or raising animals for food. The average annual income for these households was $1,115, and 74% of the heads of households had only completed primary education.
When asked about their engagement in illegal grazing or poaching, many villagers confirmed using park land. The researchers correlated these findings with participants’ reports on their household’s access to food, education, and financial security.
The results indicated that food security was the predominant factor driving illegal activities, while education and financial security had minimal effects on poaching rates.
The researchers concluded that individuals primarily poach for sustenance rather than for wealth or educational expenses. They asserted that to effectively protect wildlife and their habitats, parks must first address the food security challenges faced by local residents.
“Communities are expected to support conservation efforts, yet they are grappling with deprivation,” noted Lyakurwa. “Wild animals, particularly elephants and lions, often leave the parks, damaging crops and posing threats to human life. Additionally, locals may feel they require access to park lands for grazing their animals. It is understandable why they struggle to abide by park boundaries when their survival is at risk.”
Aside from existential issues, many villagers expressed their belief that a larger portion of the revenue generated from park tourism should be allocated to assist local communities. However, they felt that much of the income is redirected to fund projects elsewhere in the nation. This common frustration motivated Sabuhoro to take the lead in a regional initiative aimed at reducing conflicts between human needs and wildlife conservation efforts.
“Historically, local communities have been expected to adhere to regulations without being included in the planning or benefits that stem from the parks,” Sabuhoro explained. “Through the Human Wildlife Co-existence Research Network, we aim to change this dynamic.”
Sabuhoro is a co-leader of this network, which includes non-governmental organizations, government officials, scholars, park leaders, and community members across East Africa, with the goal of finding solutions that support local community needs while also enhancing conservation efforts.
“People in different nations are voicing their specific needs and crafting their own solutions,” Sabuhoro remarked. “Last year, we convened a conservation stakeholders meeting in Uganda. This year, we held a meeting in Tanzania, and we have plans for future gatherings in Kenya and Rwanda.”
To further the work of the Human Wildlife Co-existence Research Network, Sabuhoro sought to recruit and mentor a researcher from East Africa. After reviewing numerous applications, he identified Lyakurwa as an exceptional candidate.
Lyakurwa, who was born in Tanzania and previously served as a park ranger, possesses the necessary language skills, cultural insights, and perspective to conduct such research. Sabuhoro highlighted the importance of local ties to foster trust.
“In the past, western researchers would study African wildlife or communities and then depart without helping locals grasp the study’s findings or providing any lasting benefits,” Sabuhoro noted. “However, when a researcher has local roots like Gasto does, there is greater belief that the obtained knowledge will be shared back with the community.”
Lyakurwa agreed with this assessment.
“People can hold me accountable because I am from the area,” he explained. “I believe this connection encourages more transparent and complete responses from both villagers and park rangers. Everyone is doing their best in challenging circumstances, but they need to feel secure to share their perspectives.”
According to Sabuhoro, institutions such as Penn State play a vital role in training local individuals like Lyakurwa and Mercy Chepkemoi Chepkwony, a graduate student in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State and co-author of this research.
“By equipping local individuals with research skills and supporting significant research endeavors, we can aid in managing parks in ways that are sustainable for both humans and wildlife,” Sabuhoro stated.
This research received funding from the Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professorship in Global Health.
