Tanzanian Military Signs Land Agreement with AWF

Earlier this year, in the heart of the Maasai Steppe Heartland, AWF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tanzanian government to conserve land that is part of a key wildlife corridor.

Known as Makuyuni JKT (Jeshi ya Kujenga Taifa or National Youth Service), this 9,000 acre property is directly adjacent to Manyara Ranch and links to the Essimangor Forest Reserve. The area is used by diverse migratory species such as wildebeest and zebra, and has an intact population of African ebony trees (Dalbergia melanoxylon). Makuyuni JKT's natural resource values provides significant conservation, livelihood improvement for local people, and strong potential for tourism.

Historically used as a military training ground, Makuyuni JKT has remained nearly vacant since the 90s with a small cadre of soldiers to guard the property against resource exploitation. In the past decade, the land unit has been degraded through limited deforestation, large scale agriculture, soil erosion, a depletion of wildlife due to frequent poaching and/or hunting and the effects of unmanaged livestock grazing.

According to the agreement, the government must sublease the entirety of Makuyuni JKT to conservation-based enterprises secured by AWF in exchange for a percentage of tourist revenue. Furthermore, the government has agreed to assist in controlling, stopping or prohibiting intrusive activities (tree felling and forest product extraction, charcoal burning and farming).

In exchange, AWF has committed to brokering a robust partnership between Makuyuni JKT and private sector operators that are conservation-conscious. In anticipation of attracting sustainable conservation-based enterprises, AWF is working to improve Makuyuni JKT by assisting in reconstruction of water supply sources, preparing conservation management plans, developing interpretation materials, and providing conservation-based training to bio-enterprise guides.

Currently, AWF is soliciting interest from luxury, adventure safaris including photographic, hot air balloon and walking safaris. Prospective partners will be required to offer affordable lodging options in order to attract Tanzanian residents eager to explore their backyards. This will help to ensure the environmental appreciation by local community members and the long-term success of the Makuyuni JKT MoU.

AWF will also oversee the implementation of conservation activities including antipoaching, forest regeneration efforts and erosion control in cooperation with the Tanzanian government. In addition, AWF has agreed to help guide policy on conservation, development, management, and sustainable utilization of natural resources for the next 15 years.

The Makuyuni JKT land adds tremendous value to the wildlife habitat in northern Tanzania, and AWF remains hopeful that this will not be the last time a military body joins forces with conservation to advance wildlife.