Kilombero Lower Rufiji wetlands Ecosystem Management project (KILORWEMP) is a natural resource management project co-financed by the government of Belgium and the European Union. The project is implemented in three districts of Tanzania: Rufiji, Ulanga and Kilombero. The ultimate goal of the project is to sustainably manage the wetlands ecosystem of Kilombero Valley and Lower Rufiji so that its ecological balance is conserved, the local communities’ livelihoods are improved and  economic development is sustained.

Wildlife management areas: Conservation in the hands of the community

A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a decentralized community-based conservation approach to wildlife management. At this moment, Tanzania has 21 functioning WMAs, with several others still in the stage of development. Every functional WMA goes through six rigorous legal universal steps towards Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM):

1. Establish resource user group
2. Describe boundary and map area
3. Assess resources
4. Prepare resource management plan
5. Formulate and approve by-laws
6. Obtain user right

Iluma WMA

Iluma WMA, with support of KILORWEMP, achieved user right in June 2015 as the 18th registered WMA in Tanzania. The WMA, 511 square kilometre in size, is located in Kilombero and Ulanga districts. Iluma is rich in fauna: it has significant numbers of elephants, buffaloes, puku and hippopotamus. The WMA has 14 member villages with each village represented in the community based organization (CBO), the entity responsible to manage Iluma WMA. Iluma CBO is made of 42 members, of whom 24% are women.

Linking better livelihoods to conservation of nature

Strengthening livelihoods – inherently part of community based natural resources management – implicitly provides incentives to conservation. Business ventures which use the available natural resources in a sustainable way are expected to contribute to the livelihoods of member communities on the one hand, and generate revenues needed to support management of the WMA on the other hand.
When Iluma WMA obtained user right last year, the expectation to tap business potentials in its resource management zone plan (RMZP) was renewed. The business potentials include: tourist hunting, local hunting, and photographic tourism.  However, tourism business – like any other business – requires good business skills for viable and sustainable profits. 

Training business skills

Therefore, KILORWEMP is in the process of strengthening business skills of Iluma CBO through trainings, especially in terms of business plans, marketing, administration, financial and procurement management. The training targets CBO members who are expected to manage Iluma business ventures. District officials who need to support the CBO also receiving training through an action learning approach. The trainings started early January and will continue until the end of March.