Will Ngorongoro Conservation Area Remain a World Heritage Site Amidst Increasing Human Footprint?
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a World’s Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve in
Tanzania. It is the only protected area with multiple land use where both wildlife conservation and
limited human activities are allowed. Despite such an important status, the area is experiencing
ecosystem changes resulting from increasing human population, diversified livelihoods and tourism
activities. This study was conducted to determine the trends and challenges of livelihood activities of
the local Maasai and tourism in NCA and their implications on the ecology of the area. Household
questionnaire interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, direct field observations
and secondary data reviews were applied. A total of 145 people from Enduleni, Oloirobi villages and the
NCA Authority (NCAA) were involved in the study. To complement the socio-economic data, landsat
MSS satellite images of 1990, 2000 and 2013 blocks were analysed to assess land use/cover changes
occurring in the study area. Results indicate rapid human population growth rate of 5.6% and an
increment of 1.1% of livestock population per annum. It is also noted that about 46% of cropland has
increased in the studied villages. Furthermore, the Maasai who were historically pastoralists are
changing to agro-pastoralists. The grasslands and other natural forests showed a decreasing trend.
The decreasing trends in wildlife are being associated with the changing vegetation characteristics
among other factors. Despite the ecological changes, the Maasai have remained uncomfortable with the
restrictions over land use so far implemented by the NCAA. In addition, there has been an increasing
number of tourists and facility development within the NCA. There were also differing views between
the Maasai and NCAA, which might put the NCA ecosystem under serious threats questioning its
future. Whether or not the NCA will remain a world heritage site depends on management measures
taken, otherwise the disappearance of the NCA ecosystem is imminent.
Description
Keywords
NCA, NCAA, World heritage site, Tourism, Ecosystem change, Human population, Diversified livelihoods
Citation
Masao, C.A., Makoba, R. and Sosovele, H., 2015. Will Ngorongoro Conservation Area remain a world heritage site amidst increasing human footprint?. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 7(9), pp.394-407.