Assessing local communities trade-offs to support cost-effective conservation strategies: the case of the Ruvuma landscape

Zafra-Calvo, N. & Moreno-Peñaranda, R.

BEYOND ENFORCEMENT: Communities, governance, incentives and sustainable use in combating wildlife crime

February 26-28th - Glenburn Lodge Muldersdrift, South Africa

Assessing socio-ecological trade-offs in the African Ruvuma landscape

Actions to preserve biodiversity require a change in the use of the natural resources by local communities which affects their livelihoods (+ / -)

Local communities change their use of the natural resources in response to conservation actions and it influences conservation outcomes (+ / -)

TRADE-OFFS

METHODS Participative assessment approach

(1) Characterize the natural resource management systems; knowing how conservation actions and illegal wildlife trade impact on the livelihoods of local communities.

(2) Define indicators to assess as monetary costs and benefits critical aspects of the natural resource management system; trying to understand why local communities get involved in or support illegal use and trade.

(3) Integrate indicators through multi-criteria tools and present a strategy of sustainable use; as perceived by local communities.

The Ruvuma landscape – North Mozambique and South Tanzania

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Niassa Wildlife Protection Corridor (SNWPC)

Niassa Reserve

Quirimbas Niassa Corridor (QNC)

Quirimbas National Park

jeffreybarbee.blogspot.com gothunts.com

issamichuzi.blogspot.com

http://dancingwiththewildbeast.blogspot.com.es/2010/07/niassa-carnivore-project.html

(1) How do conservation actions and illegal wildlife trade impact on the livelihoods of local communities?

without conservation actions

with conservation actions

(2) Understanding why local communities get involved in or support illegal wildlife use and trade

Costs and benefits have been estimated as additional costs/benefits versus a baseline situation without conservation actions (year 2012)

Increasing poaching despite conservation actions

SNWPC – Opportunity cost of conservation directly impacting agriculture, main source of income to local communities

QNC – Loss of traditional sustainable common use of natural resources by local communities

(3) A strategy of sustainable use decreasing illegal wildlife trade

SUSTAINABLE USE STRATEGY in the RUVUMA LANDSCAPE Improved smallholder agricultural production

Common use of the forest by local communities

Joint ventures between local communities and private companies for trophy hunting

Ideal situation

agriculture forest

wildlife

Distance from ideal situation

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Noelia Zafra Calvo zafra.calvo@ias.unu.edunzafracalvo@gmail.com