Protecting wilderness areas and promoting the sustainable development of local communities go hand in hand. In essence, the FZS Serengeti Ecosystem Management project aims to provide conservation-compatible, tangible development opportunities to local communities.
It primarily focuses on empowering communities living around the Serengeti National Park to actively participate in conservation efforts by providing them with alternative income sources and incentives to protect the ecosystem. These include diverse initiatives like beekeeping, sustainable tourism and the Village Forest Guards project.
In the collaborative development of scientifically informed land-use plans with villages and District Councils, there is the potential to address multiple socio-economic and conservation objectives.
FZS works closely with local partners and multi-district government authorities to ensure that conservation efforts extend beyond the Serengeti National Park. Partnerships include Serengeti National Park (SENAPA), Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI).