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The increase in population and human activities in the landscape has led to an increase in land use changes and increased interaction between people and wildlife. This results in challenges such as human-wildlife conflict, and habitat degradation. The Human-Lion Conflicts Mitigation Program in Katavi and Ugalla Ecosystem aims to address the challenges; of habitat encroachments, livestock predation, and retaliatory and non-retaliatory killing of lions arising from interactions between local communities and lion populations. This initiative promotes coexistence and creates a balanced approach to wildlife conservation and community well-being.
LCAs act as our representatives in our covered villages around protected areas. The main responsibility involves monitoring and mapping lion occupancy, human-lion conflicts, and other lion mortality and the presence of wild animals on the communal lands using data collection tools.
The trained and equipped LCAs assist in monitoring efforts and alerting the communities via the Loudspeaker Early Warning System they supervise to the presence of lions (and other dangerous and problematic animals) in communal land.
Also, LCAs work to lead community members in recovering lost people and livestock, assist our program field team, and maintain WASIMA’s presence in the villages.
Loudspeaker Early Warning System (LEWS) is installed in areas with high incidences of Human-Lion Conflicts to alert communities to lion movements and potential threats. An essential system broadcasts alerts when lions are detected near human settlements. This proactive approach allows community members to take necessary precautions by avoiding areas where lions are active and safely keep their livestock against predators.
These stations also broadcast conservation information and social issues in the village, including special village meetings.
We support local communities in building Predator Proof Bomas thereby reducing the costs of living with lions and minimizing non-retaliatory and retaliatory lion killings (Human-Lion Conflicts) which is our continuous effort.
These bomas are installed by using strong chain-link and wooden poles. Bomas are also meant to fertilize the soil and maximize crop production for our beneficiaries whose land is least fertile and depends on livestock manure to maximize crop harvests (food security).