Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research - Frontier-publications ...

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1. Executive SummaryEcosystems are changing rapidly in the face of increasing human populations anddemands for natural resources. These changes are forcing a radical rethink on theimplementation of conservation projects worldwide, and nowhere more so than insub-Saharan Africa. This report focuses on research undertaken by the Frontier-Tanzania Savanna Research Programme (FTSRP) in 2007 within the KilomberoValley of southern central Tanzania and the following conservation implications.A wide range of topics are discussed concerning the changing environments andactivities within the Kilombero Valley, how the human population and theenvironment interact throughout these changes, and how these changes can berecognised within a conservation paradigm. Topics include trophy hunting and cropraiding and the impact on local communities within the Kilombero Valley. Theimpact of agricultural expansion is discussed with regard to the impact it has on largemammal migration routes between the Kilombero Valley and the UdzungwaMountains, and research to identify biological indicators of these changes aredisplayed.This research illustrates that although significant changes are taking place within theKilombero Valley, there is potential for conservation initiatives to succeed. Action isrequired sooner rather than later, as the pressure of human growth is rapidly leading toland use change within the region, which could be catastrophic to the regions’ wildlife.9
2. Introduction2.1 History and Rationale of the ProgrammeThe Frontier Tanzania Savanna Research Programme (FTSRP) is a component ofFrontier Tanzania, a collaboration between the University of Dar es Salaam and theSociety for Environmental Exploration, established in 1989. Frontier Tanzania aims toundertake research into environmental issues within Tanzania, to facilitateunderstanding and to assist in the development of management policies.FTSRP has been working in the Kilombero Valley since July 1998, based inevergreen forest on the south side of the Kilombero River in the Ulanga District, nearthe villages of Itete and Iragua (Figure 2.1). Many conservation research anddevelopment activities were conducted, including baseline studies of the Kilomberoriver birds and fisheries, the puku antelope, the biodiversity of miombo areas, land useplanning of Itete Ward, facilitation of the establishment of a Community BasedOrganisation, and the development of an environmental education programme.In 2007 FTSRP continued research within the Kilombero Valley, but based on thenorthern side of the Kilombero River, in the Kilombero District near the villages ofMofu and Namwawala (Figure 2.1). Camp was established within the miombowoodland of the Namwai forest, within the Ruipa wildlife corridor. This area wasidentified in 2003/4 by Trevor Jones as being one of only two remaining wildlifecorridors connecting the Udzungwa Mountains with the Kilombero Valley (Jones et al.2007). The other remaining wildlife corridor is the Nyanganje corridor situated to theeast of Ifakara, the main town within the Kilombero Valley.One of the main objectives of FTSRPs presence in this area was to establish whetherthe Ruipa wildlife corridor is still being used as a corridor by large mammals, and toidentify the extent of any threats to the corridor. Throughout the course of this yearwe were able to undertake further research topics, outlined below.2.2 Key Research AreasThe main objective of research carried out by FTSRP within the Ruipa corridor is toestablish whether this corridor is still viable for the movement of wildlife through theKilombero Valley. Research methods used included the identification of largemammal tracks and the use of signs transects, in conjunction with human disturbancetransects. The same transects were conducted each phase, although due to changingwater levels throughout the year all transects were always accessible. This workaimed to establish which animals were using the area, and to identify any changes inthe use of the area throughout the year, both in terms of animals and people.Social surveys were conducted in 25 villages across the Kilombero Valley throughoutthe latter part of the year. Villages on both sides of the valley were surveyed, from theDistricts of Ulanga and Kilombero. A total of 375 people were questioned on a widerange of topics, including crop raiding, trophy hunting, elephant movement, predators,the Kilombero Valley Teak Company (KVTC), and immigration.10
Page 3 and 4: Frontier Tanzania Environmental Res
Page 5 and 6: Kilombero Valley Teak Company (KVTC
Page 7 and 8: Drivers:Sarah Kristian WandehaOmari
Page 12 and 13: Within the Ruipa corridor biodivers
Page 14 and 15: 2.4 People of the ValleyThe human p
Page 16 and 17: Figure 2.2: Distribution of the mio
Page 18 and 19: are leading to increased rates of e
Page 20 and 21: conducting the interviews in privat
Page 22 and 23: 3.4.1.3 Immigration190 people inter
Page 24 and 25: 4. Crop Raiding in the Kilombero Va
Page 26 and 27: antagonism and further difficulties
Page 28 and 29: Question 4: Which crops do you grow
Page 30 and 31: Question 5: Which animals damage yo
Page 32 and 33: Table 4.4: Animals responsible for
Page 34 and 35: Question 11: How does this affect y
Page 36 and 37: Pitfall traps 19 5.07Arrows 11 2.93
Page 38 and 39: Electric fences should be removed 6
Page 40 and 41: 1999). When water sources higher in
Page 42 and 43: increased level of danger, as there
Page 44 and 45: 70.93% thought that they should hav
Page 46 and 47: effective (Ahmed and Fiedler, 2002)
Page 48 and 49: 5. Trophy Hunting and Local Communi
Page 50 and 51: One of the main ways that trophy hu
Page 52 and 53: Table 5.1. Assistance with the cont
Page 54 and 55: Question 2: Do you benefit from the
Page 56 and 57: Mngeta• The village does not bene
Page 58 and 59: • TSH 500,000 for village account
Page 60 and 61:
Question 4: What problems do you ha
Page 62 and 63:
• Not allowed to fish (3)• Not
Page 64 and 65:
• If you are caught fishing or po
Page 66 and 67:
Question 5: Does the hunting compan
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problem animals, as only 6.67% of p
Page 70 and 71:
5.2.7 ConclusionThe information gat
Page 72 and 73:
6. ReferencesAbdallah. J. M and Mon
Page 74 and 75:
Humavindu and Barnes, 2003 M.N. Hum
Page 76:
wolves, jackals and dogs: status su
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