More Than The Great Migration

The Great Migration making its rounds in the Serengeti is a big deal. Many people come to Tanzania to witness it. But migration is occurring all the time, in many parts of Tanzania. There is the migration of Elephants between the Amboseli ecosystem and West Kilimanjaro as well as of Wildebeest and Zebra between Tarangire and the Simanjiro plains. The fact is most wildlife need to migrate in search for food, water and other resources for survival. But a rise in urbanization is taking place, and many migratory corridors are in a critical state in Tanzania as human wildlife conflict escalates. Contrary to what many think, local people and their traditional livelihoods, like the nomadic Maasai pastoralists, are not the threat. They mostly continue to live in conjunction with wildlife. Even now, you will see on your safaris the Maasai herding their cattle alongside zebra, impala, and wildebeest without disrupting each other. Activities that are causing the most harm are outside farmers & investors gobbling up land for agriculture and exports crops. And if left unchecked, many wildlife areas, including the iconic national parks will become zoological islands, eventually leading to species extinction. There is hope. Organizations such as Ujama Community Resource Team are working to secure land rights of indigenous groups like the Maasai and Hadzabe, so they have more veto power over decisions on their land. Next time you are on safari, keep in mind the fragility of the ecosystems and the critical role of indigenous communities. And that your experience matters in highlighting not only the wonders of Tanzania, but what is required to keep it that way.

If you are interested in learning more about conservation and community development in Tanzania, you can visit www.ujamaa-crt.org for more insights.