Impact of Conservation Benefit-Sharing Incentive on Wildlife Conservation in Tanzania: A Case of Local Communities Living Adjacent to Rungwa Game Reserve.

Kweka, Winnie S. (2025) Impact of Conservation Benefit-Sharing Incentive on Wildlife Conservation in Tanzania: A Case of Local Communities Living Adjacent to Rungwa Game Reserve. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study investigated the impact of conservation benefit-sharing incentives on wildlife conservation among communities living near Rungwa Game Reserve in Tanzania. Employing a cross-sectional design, it utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were collected from 338 randomly selected households and seven purposively selected key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent content analysis. The findings revealed that local communities generally had a positive perception of conservation benefit-sharing projects. Household participation was high during the identification stage of projects but declined significantly during planning, implementation, and management phases. Rungwa Game Reserve engaged communities through mechanisms such as conservation meetings (mean score 4.24), beekeeping (mean score 4.18), and tree planting (mean score 3.76). These initiatives played a crucial role in raising conservation awareness, supporting anti-poaching measures, and contributing to habitat restoration. Implementing benefit-sharing projects significantly influenced community participation in conservation activities. In conclusion, the local communities near Rungwa Game Reserve are supportive of conservation benefit-sharing initiatives and that the strategies used by the reserve were effective in enhancing community engagement. The study recommends reviewing the legal framework regulating the distribution of monetary benefits among local communities surrounding game reserves to ensure more inclusive and equitable participation in conservation efforts. Keywords: Conservation Benefit Sharing, Wildlife Conservation, Local Communities, Game Reserve, Wildlife Conservation.

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