Payments for ecosystem services as a framework for community-based conservation in northern Tanzania

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Ecosystem Services
• Community-Based Natural Resource Management

Background:

• Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are emerging conservation tools, but operational examples in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce.
• Large mammal populations in savannah ecosystems face decline due to habitat loss and limited local benefits from wildlife.
• Community-based conservation often struggles with institutional barriers hindering local rights and economic gains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme in a Tanzanian savannah ecosystem.
• To explore how PES can reconcile local livelihoods with national conservation goals.
• To provide an operational model for wildlife conservation outside protected areas.

Main Methods:

• A tourism operator consortium partnered with a local village to implement a PES agreement.
• The agreement involved community enforcement of land-use restrictions in a critical wildlife dispersal area.
• Financial incentives were provided to the community for conservation stewardship.

Main Results:

• The initiative established a potentially cost-effective framework for community-based conservation.
• It facilitated reconciliation of land tenure, pastoralist livelihoods, and conservation interests.
• The scheme demonstrated a practical application of PES for wildlife conservation in the region.

Conclusions:

• PES schemes can be adapted for wildlife conservation in savannah ecosystems, especially where local stewardship is key.
• This model offers a viable strategy for addressing conservation challenges outside protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Successful implementation requires addressing institutional barriers and ensuring local benefits from conservation efforts.