Browsing by Author "Masozera, M."

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Integrating the management of the ruaha landscape of Tanzania with local needs and preferences
(University of California, 2010-01) Masozera, M.; Erickson, J.D.; Clifford, D. L.; Coppolillo, P.; Nguvava, M.; Sadiki, H.; Mazet, J. A .K.
ustainable management of landscapes with multiple competing demands requires balancing the diverse preferences and needs of stakeholder groups. Conservation and development organizations have often made unwarranted assumptions about what is desired by, or good for local people without engaging local stakeholders. This study uses conjoint analysis to assess the preferences of representatives from three stakeholder groups—local communities, district government officials, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—to identify potential competing conservation and development priorities facing local communities in the Ruaha Landscape of Tanzania. Representatives of local agricultural communities place high importance on investments in farmer’s cooperatives that increase accessibility to supplies, loans, and capacity development. In contrast, district government officials and NGOs perceive investments to improve health, education, and tourism infrastructure as highest priorities for the region. Analysis suggests a need for incorporating issues deemed important by these various groups into a development strategy that aims to promote conservation of the Ruaha Landscape while improving the livelihoods of local communities. To be successful, future projects, whether conservation or development, must reconcile objectives at local to global scales and across sectors.
Landscape Factors Associated with Livestock Disease Deaths in Idodi and Pawaga Divisions, Tanzania
(Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, 2009-05) Coppollillo, P.; Clifford, D.; Dickman, A.; Masozera, M.; Kazwala, R.; Erickson, J.; Mazet, J.
In sub-Saharan Africa, livestock deaths due to disease have large impacts on household income and nutrition. As part of the larger Health for Animals and Livelihood Improvement (HALI) project assessing the impact of zoonotic disease and water scarcity on rural livelihoods, the authors examined the association between landscape factors and livestock deaths attributed to disease in pastoralist households living near Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. Preliminary results suggest that households located farther from the center of the village and farther from water sources suffered greater livestock losses due to disease. Livestock disease losses were greater in Pawaga than in Idodi Division, underscoring the importance of localized factors that may influence disease. The presence of wildlife and close proximity to roads were not associated with livestock disease losses. However, that is not to say the perception of disease from wildlife is not important, nor can it be said that interactions in the opposite direction (from livestock to wildlife) are not important. These assessments will require further investigation, which is currently underway. Study data also support the importance of water availability for livestock health and productivity. In conclusion, both local and regional strategies to increase livestock productivity should consider within-village disease variation and ensure that more remote households have access to extension and veterinary services.