The project from conflict to coexistence conserving african elephants in tanzanias greater mkomazi landscape addresses escalating human elephant conflict in the tsavo mkomazi ecosystem one of the…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, through the African Elephant Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.620), awarded a $435,118.95 Project Grant to the African People & Wildlife Fund, Inc. The grant supports a 3-year initiative to address human-elephant conflict and conserve African elephants in the Greater Mkomazi landscape of Tanzania. Key activities include collaring and monitoring 12 elephants to understand their movements, deploying human-elephant conflict resolution officers to work with local communities, and collaborating with stakeholders to implement evidence-based conservation and coexistence strategies. The project aims to reduce human-elephant conflict, improve community well-being, and ensure the long-term viability of the elephant population within this critical transboundary ecosystem.

The project from conflict to coexistence conserving african elephants in tanzanias greater mkomazi landscape addresses escalating human elephant conflict in the tsavo mkomazi ecosystem one of the largest protected transboundary ecosystems in east africa. Connectivity between mkomazi national park and tsavo west national park is crucial for elephants and a range of other species that disperse seasonally in search of food water and breeding grounds. As human and wildlife populations have increased in this landscape there is a need to identify evidence based solutions that reduce conflict and balance the needs of people and wildlife. African people wildlife in partnership with local communities government and non profit stakeholders will collect data on elephant movement monitor and evaluate human elephant conflict implement human elephant coexistence strategies and strengthen cross boundary partnerships for conservation. To better understand where when and why elephants are moving across the landscape both within and beyond the national park 12 elephants will be collared and monitored over the course of three years. Building upon apws successful conflict resolution models we will deploy human elephant coexistence officers to engage with communities gather and evaluate conflict data and implement mitigation strategies ensuring locally relevant and sustainable solutions. Utilizing movement conflict and mitigation data we will work with communities and the tanzania national parks authority to inform and implement conservation and coexistence strategies interventions and policies that allow people and elephants to thrive. The project outcomes include a deeper understanding of elephant movements reduced human elephant conflict improved community well being and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. Ultimately this initiative aims to safeguard both wildlife and local livelihoods while ensuring the long term viability of elephants within this critical ecosystem.