Analysis of Communities’ Land Uses that Affect Management of Wildlife Resources in Protected Areas of Selous Ecosystem

Abstract

Community’s land uses in the vicinity of unfenced Protected Areas (PAs) can determine management and conservation sustainability of these areas. There is scanty information on land uses that affect management of wildlife resources in PAs. This paper seeks to reveal the less known community current land uses which affect management of wildlife resources in PAs using South Eastern Sector of Selous Game Reserve (SGR) ecosystem as a case study. Objectively, the study concentrates on land tenure system, and socio-economic activities that affect management of wildlife resources in the study area. Two villages were involved namely Mpigamiti and Kikulyungu. Sample of 70 respondents were selected, whereby 60 and 10 respondents randomly and purposely selected respectively. Data were collected by using Survey and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods. Collected data were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results indicated that 85.0% of the respondents can get more land for cultivation out of planned land uses. Encroachment of wildlife resources increases whereas elephants poaching are at alarming rate of 33.3% per year from the year 2010. Charcoal production, honey gathering, clearance for cultivation and local beliefs resulted to increase wildfires by 12.5% per year from the year 2005. The study concludes that, management of wildlife resources in SGR is fairly sustainable. It is recommended that more understanding on resource use values and implementation of land use plan in villages adjacent to SGR are mainly vital to ensure effective management of wildlife resources.