Habitat restoration
Collaborative bush encroachment clearing project to re-establish indigenous grasslands and wildlife biodiversity.
Habitat restoration
Bush encroachment clearing
Lake Manyara’s landscape is a showcase of forest greens and scenic shores. However, within these surrounds there has been a marked increase of alien bushy and woody vegetation, unpalatable to local wildlife, which is a growing cause for concern.
Sectors of land close to andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge were historically farmlands with large plantations. This disturbance of the natural habitat has made these areas especially prone to the spread of invasive species.
Currently, it is estimated that this bush encroachment now occupies 24% of the park area below the rift wall, reducing the foraging range of wildlife. In the past, some of these areas were open plains known as Mahali Pa Nyati, Swahili for the ‘place of the buffalo’; grazing areas for herbivores such as wildebeest, zebra and buffalo.
This Lake Manyara National Park project is a full collaboration between Wild Impact, andBeyond and the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA).
Project objectives
- Restoring wildlife ranges and wildlife by clearing this bush encroachment and growing back indigenous grasslands which once populated this ecosystem
- Connecting the fragmented wildlife corridors within the Lake Manyara ecosystem through this bush clearance, bringing back migrating species such as wildebeest and zebra
- Our June 2025 target is the clearance of 404.2 Hectares (998.7 acres)
In those areas cleared to date, a high visibility of wildlife has returned, including antelopes, elephants and lion. Indigenous fauna species are very evident, with increasing food abundance.
Community context
Working closely with our Lake Manyara partner communities of Moya and Mayoka, who are situated close to the Iyambi southern entrance gate, this project is providing additional income and driving conservation awareness.
Employment opportunities include two Wild Impact Community & Conservation rangers, 24 casual workers, a field research assistant to gather data and direct the field teams on the species to be removed, and a TANAPA conservation ranger for in-field supervision and security purposes.
Casual workers work a 6-day week (excluding Sunday) and the selection criteria adheres to the principles of gender equality, with 12 male and 12 female field workers.
Our two Wild Impact Community & Conservation rangers who are drawn from these rural communities, play key mentorship and leadership roles; their responsibilities include dedicated environmental awareness and education on the threats of invasive species and the holistic conservation benefits of habitat restoration.
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