Interplays between nature’s contributions to people, values of nature, and emotions expressed by smallholder farmers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: insights for inclusive conservation

Smallholder farmers' relationships with nature in Kilimanjaro National Park reveal three distinct emotional, value-based associations that challenge traditional conservation paradigms. The study identifies a link between unpleasant emotions and material/regulating benefits below the park's border, contrasting with pleasant emotions tied to non-material contributions and relational values (e.g., sense of place) in homegardens. A third pattern connects instrumental and relational values with social cohesion across all farmers. These findings underscore the need for inclusive conservation strategies that recognize diverse human-nature interactions, reduce access restrictions, and expand benefit-sharing mechanisms beyond material gains.

Sanya, J., Pearson, J., Mwampamba, T. H., Sesabo, J. K., & Martín-López, B. (2026). Interplays between nature’s contributions to people, values of nature, and emotions expressed by smallholder farmers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: insights for inclusive conservation. Sustainability Science, 21(3), 1059–1082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01776-7