Community–based conservation in East Africa: a case study of Ndarakwai ranch, Tanzania. (4th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elander, Melissa; Blackstone, Augusta; Cleary, Chad; Clogston, Heather; Hallworth, Michael; Jardin, Heidi; Johnson, Zachary; Kornfeld, Jeannie; Parent, Kyle; Donahue, Katherine; Reitsma, Len
• Is Part Of: Interdisciplinary environmental review. Volume 8:Number 1(2006)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2014-08-04
• Subjects: community–based conservation -- local communities -- East Africa -- Tanzania -- wildlife corridors -- water holes -- tree damage -- elephants -- browsing intensity -- elephant damage; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Sustainability -- Periodicals; 333.705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1521-0227

Abstract

In East Africa, areas of interspersed savanna and woodland between large preserves, such as National Parks, act as important corridors for migrating wildlife. Ndarakwai ranch serves as a wildlife corridor, in particular for the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). We compared browsing intensity on two species of Acacia by measuring elephant damage in 2002 and 2004, especially as it relates to the proximity of individual trees to a permanent water hole. We found a significant negative correlation between damage to both A. tortilis and A. mellifera and their distance from the water hole, as well as significantly greater damage on A. mellifera. The use of this wooded site appears to have declined, as measured by the significantly lower abundance of elephant scat on the site in 2004 compared to 2002.