Keeping The Peace

Community-based employment not only creates jobs in rural areas, it also brings ownership and greater involvement in conservation activities to integrated landscapes, supporting ways in which people and wildlife can exist together. We meet some of the men and women employed on the periphery of Ruaha National Park in Tanzania.

Lion Defenders

Darem Philipo age 29 (left) and John Matiasi aged 24 (right) are both employed as Lion Defenders. Lion Landscapes research found that 65% of carnivore attacks occurred within poorly protected livestock enclosures (known locally as bomas). As part of their role the Lion Defenders support the village pastoralists by checking their traditional thorn-bush bomas, looking for signs of weakness. They assist with the reinforcement of the enclosures using traditional means.

To the left you can see a newer wire boma which was built as part of a scheme run by Lion Landscapes that supports the provision of wire enclosures in areas of high predation. The enclosures are made with strong diamond-mesh fencing and have been found to be 95% effective at preventing depredations at the boma. The household are asked to contribute 25% of the $500 cost and commit to maintaining the wire enclosure.

Camera Trap Officers

Yohana Mtemisika aged 28, has been a Camera Trap Officer for two years. The Community Camera Trap scheme unlocks the value of wildlife for villages adjacent to Ruaha National Park while supporting important wildlife research. The scheme involves 16 villages photographing wildlife via camera traps, earning escalating points for the animals photographed. A small antelope like a dik dik is worth a small number of points, while species such as lion, cheetah, or leopard attract a high score. Villages exchange these points for educational, healthcare or veterinary benefits while capturing research data on wildlife biodiversity.

Yohana, a pastoralist, was selected by his village to be a camera trap officer and trained in how to set up and maintain them. He says, “I was chosen as I know the bush well. I try and place cameras on paths where I know the wildlife passes. The whole village is looking out for wildlife now.”

Conflict Officer

Neria Abdi aged 25, has been a Conflict Officer since 2018. In the Greater Ruaha area Conflict Officers are employed in all the villages that Lion Landscapes work in. A significant part of the role is to be the first to respond to depredations, collect data and monitor trends in livestock loss from carnivores across over 500 livestock enclosures.

Neria’s role is to support the community while acting as a conservation ambassador. It’s not always easy “There are often a lot of challenges when trying to resolve conflict, such as a lot of anger after a depredation.” Neria says. “Maasai women have traditionally been responsible for domestic work so at first, being female caused me additional challenges in making my voice heard, but now people understand I am there to help and accept my advice. I used to fear lions but my perspective has changed and I see the importance of wildlife. My community now benefits from protecting it.”