Tanzanian village residents give strong backing to project for economic development and wildlife conservation
A ground-breaking project to combine economic development with strategic wildlife conservation in northern Tanzania has achieved a strong start following extensive consultation with local communities.
The Manyara Ranch-Africa Bridge project aims to conserve wildlife in the internationally important Manyara migration route, both while and by improving prospects for smallholding farmers in the region. The project is due to run from 2026-2031. In two foundational three-day conferences held in June, residents met with representatives of wildlife NGOs, local politicians and other interest groups to identify issues and establish priorities for this ambitious project.
Identified challenges included climate change, environmental degradation, human–wildlife conflict, invasive plant species, poverty, unequal opportunities for vulnerable children, political interference, changing social values, and the need to strengthen community ownership of development initiatives. There was a shared commitment to the following principles: environmental restoration, protection of water sources, tree planting, control of invasive species, sustainable livestock management, and conservation. Peaceful coexistence — within families, between communities, and between people, wildlife, and Manyara Ranch — emerged as the foundation of the enterprise.
Some community members expressed satisfaction that their needs would be treated as being at least of equal concern to the interests of wildlife. Tanzania, the country that features the world-famous Serengeti nature reserve, has for a long time been the recipient of international donations for the conservation of iconic animals, and has attracted thousands of tourists enjoying safaris. Too often the needs of the people living in its shadow have received less interest, despite experiencing poverty and hardship. If, for example, a lion kills a family’s only cow, this is devastating for the family. Such issues need to be addressed if the needs of wildlife and people are both to be respected.
This project aims to restore a balance, placing equal emphasis on poverty reduction, economic opportunity, and conservation. The established Africa Bridge sustainable agriculture model — proven in dozens of villages in southern Tanzania — is being rolled out as part of the Manyara project.
Key features of the Africa Bridge model
- The starting point is the needs of the children. This ensures a focus on development, minimizing the influence of vested interests.
- Women have equal say and control in the projects and committees.
- Capital injection boosts production in selected produce, such as cow’s milk.
- A proportion of profits from the farms pays for educational and welfare needs of the village’s children through the Most Vulnerable Children’s Committees.
- Farmers own the assets, encouraging saving, investment, entrepreneurship, and inheritance.
Initial meetings organized by the Manyara Ranch Management Trust and Africa Bridge were held in June 2026. They consisted of two workshops. The first, taking place on 10–12 June, engaged 31 children and young people from the six villages surrounding Manyara Ranch. The second workshop on 15–17 June involved around 70 participants representing communities, traditional leaders, local and district government, NGOs, religious leaders, MRMT, and Africa Bridge.