National Wildlife Research
Information System

Research Preview

Image description
Research Project Title
Towards sustainable human wildlife coexistence in Northern Tanzania (WildCo Tanzania)
Research Purpose:
Other -(Specify)
Principle Investigator:
m.p.veldhuis@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Introduction
Tanzania is one of the last strongholds of biodiversity, especially concerning megafauna, and has been and still is incredibly successful in its conservation efforts. Nevertheless, large scale drivers such as human population growth and climate change lead to land-use conversions, increasing livestock numbers, water source depletion, invasive plants proliferation and habitat degradation. To ensure a sustainable future where both people and wildlife florish, we need to better understand their interactions with each other and the landscape as a whole.
Problem Statment
In a rapidly changing landscape – responding to warmer climates, land-use changes, spread of invasive species and increased movements of human populations – the biodiversity of Northern Tanzania faces new challenges. The solutions to these challenges depend upon being able to foster sustainable coexistence of people and wildlife. Solutions that focus on sustainable implementation and ensuring an ecosystem that can support both people and wildlife will be key. An interdisciplinary approach bringing together diverse expertise from natural sciences, social sciences and co-creating solutions with local communities will ensure all perspectives are considered and help develop innovative solutions to these complex problems.
General Research Objective
We aim to contribute to solutions towards sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
Other Details
Clearance# Clearance Date Permit# Permit Date Commencement Date Completion Date
None CST00000406-2024-2024-00396 Dec. 15, 2024, midnight Jan. 1, 2023 Dec. 31, 2028
Priority Research Theme & Areas
Priority Research Theme Research Area
HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Composition, distribution and abundance of Wildlife in Protected Areas and Non- Protected Areas
HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTIONS Land-use conflicts
WILDLIFE POPULATION MONITORING Social, environmental and ecological drivers of population dynamics
HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Alien and Invasive species
NATURAL RESOURCE POLICIES AND GOOD GOVERNANCE Land use planning for supporting livelihoods and conservation goals
Project Location
Region Wildlife Area District Species

Mara

Arusha

Simiyu

Serengeti

Ngorongoro

Maswa

Grumeti

Ikorongo

Lake Natron

Speke Gulf

Loliondo

Ikona

Project Researchers
Researcher Role
Michiel Veldhuis Principal Investigator
Matana Ng'weli Co-researcher
Exavery Kigosi Co-researcher
George Lohay referee
Denis Ikanda referee
Emily Strange Co-researcher
Reseach Objectives
Sn Objective Methods Description
1 Mitigate the negative effects of Invasive Species
Other Invasive species transects across projected area boundaries
2 Facilitate coexistence between people and large mammals
Other Dietary analysis of large herbivores and livestock. Collating human-wildlife conflict data from DGO's. Spatiotemporal investigation of conflict in relation to mitigation measures
3 Provide scientific evidence to design and manage boundary areas and corridors– management across borders
Other Digitizing databased on human-wildlife conflict across Tanzania to investigate how boundary management and corridors affect conflict.
4 To tackle the challenges mentioned above we connect a) social and natural scientists, b) African and European scientists and c) scientists, managing authorities, NGO’s and (local) politicians.
Other Mobility of Tanzanian researchers to Leiden University. Connecting anthropologist and ecologist. Workshops to stimulate intersectoral knowledge exchange
Reseach Attachments
Attachment Name Attachment
Full Proposal Proposal_.pdf