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):
- Establish resource user group
- Describe boundary and map area
- Assess resources
- Prepare resource management plan
- Formulate and approve by-laws
- 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.