Implication of consolation scheme in reducing human-wildlife conflict near the Rungwa-Muhesi-Kizigo Game Reserve in Singida, Tanzania

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflicts adjacent to the protected and conservation areas continue to affect the livelihoods of local communities worldwide. This study assesses the effectiveness of Tanzania's consolation scheme in reducing human-wildlife conflict in the Rungwa-Muhesi-Kizigo Game Reserve. Learning from the local communities through interviews, surveys, and observations, the findings show the government consolation scheme to be ineffective at supporting the community members who are affected by wildlife, contrary to the scheme's goal. It is revealed that there is low awareness of the consolation scheme among the household members in the study area. Findings show a number of drawbacks that make local communities fail to access benefits from the wildlife consolation scheme, including the long procedure required to fulfill it, the delay of consolation benefits, the insufficient commitment of village leaders in reporting human-wildlife incidents on time, and a lack of community knowledge on the procedures to access the consolation scheme benefits. We conclude that the Tanzania consolation scheme is meager and less effective in reducing human-wildlife conflict in Rungwa-Muhesi-Kizigo Game Reserve. Thus, we recommend that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Tanzania review the consolation scheme procedures and guidelines, employ enough game officers, work with different conservation stakeholders at local and national levels to engage in timely reporting of the incidents, evaluation of the damages or losses caused by wild animals, and improve the scheme budget for the scheme to perform effectively.