Community Evaluation of Protected Areas Governance and Management Effectiveness: A Case Study of Manyara Region, Tanzania

Felix Joseph Mkonyi

doi:10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180305.11

Abstract

Protected areas (PAs) governance is increasingly seen as a critical determinant for PA management effectiveness. This paper aims to explore the actors involved in PA governance and management and their roles, and the factors influencing the PA management success as perceived by local communities in Manyara region, Tanzania. This study further explores the community perceptions of PAs governance using good governance principles including legitimacy and voice, accountability, performance, and fairness and rights. A mixed methods approach was used in this research which comprised structured household interviews, key informant interviews and document review. Respondents ranked local community involvement (12.6%) and environmental education and awareness (13.8%) as the top most important or relevant factors for PA management success in the region. Overall perceptions of respondents indicate that legitimacy and voice (83%), fairness and rights (75%) and performance (68%) were the good principles of PA governance while transparency was the weak governance criteria which may undermine effective community participation in PAs management in the region. This study suggests the need for full involvement and coordination of many stakeholders including the local communities, integration of multilateral governance principles and improving environmental education and awareness for effective governance and management of PAs in the region.

Highlights

IntroductionTanzania is richly endowed with biodiversity (including forests, national parks, game reserves and wetlands)
This study revealed the existence of several key actors of Protected areas (PAs) governance and management in the area, including the central government (Ministry of Natural Resources, and Tourism — MNRT; Forest and Beekeeping Division — FBD, Wildlife Division — WD), international conservation organizations (African Wildlife Foundation — AWF and World Wildlife Fund for Nature — WWF); academic institutions
Wildlife inside the parks is fully protected under the National Parks ordinance, and outside the park wildlife management is covered by wildlife Act (1974) through the provision of community-based conservation (CBC)

Summary

Introduction

Tanzania is richly endowed with biodiversity (including forests, national parks, game reserves and wetlands). Biodiversity is important for the livelihoods of people living in rural areas. Harmful practices to biodiversity originate from the failure of policies, laws and decision-making processes of the key actors. Human activities such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, over-exploitation or pollution are responsible for the ongoing decline in biodiversity, but these are linked with the absence or failure of management and governance structures and processes to deal with these developments [13]. Nature conservation experts confirm that problems at the operational level are closely linked with broader governance issues [4]

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Methods

Results

Conclusion