Human-Wildlife Interactions and Community Livelihoods

Human-wildlife interactions (HWIs) around the Selous Game Reserve (SGR) are predominantly characterized by hostility, driven by climate-induced changes in water and pasture availability. A study involving 312 households and 11 key informants from four villages—Mvuha, Mbwade, Milengwelengwe, and Kisaki Gomero—revealed that temperature and rainfall variations significantly influence these dynamics. Spatial analysis further demonstrated land use changes, with bushlands expanding at the expense of woodlands due to increased human interference. While villages designated as Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) expressed concerns about employment and benefit distribution, non-WMA villages emphasized the need for policy review, advocating for a more holistic conservation approach. The research highlights the complex interplay between community livelihoods and wildlife ecology, underscoring the urgent need for conflict mitigation strategies.

Hussein Swalehe, T., & Yanda, P. Z. (2023). Human-Wildlife Interactions and Community Livelihoods. Journal of the Geographical Association of Tanzania, 43(1), 17–40. https://doi.org/10.56279/jgat.v43i1.236