LocationsFrom Poaching to Protection: Tanzania’s Wildlife Is Thriving Again
July 29, 2025
Members of the Project Steering Committee for the Combating Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade Project during their meeting in Arusha.
Tanzania is making remarkable strides in its fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade, thanks to an integrated approach led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP. The "Combating Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade Project" is not only protecting iconic species like elephants and rhinos but also promoting green growth and empowering communities, strengthening institutions, and leveraging innovation.
From Decline to Recovery
Poaching wave once threatened Tanzania’s reputation as a conservation leader. Today, the country is positively and steadily turning the tide. In the Ruaha–Rungwa landscape, elephant poaching has dropped by an impressive 95.8%, with just one case reported in the past year. Lion poaching has been completely halted in the country. Behind this turnaround are coordinated efforts—from law enforcement and cross-border intelligence sharing to new tools like drones and surveillance equipment.
Wildlife numbers are recovering: the elephant population has grown to over 60,000, while rhino numbers continue to rise (numbers to be confirmed by the ongoing animal Census).
Wildlife numbers are recovering: the elephant population has grown to over 60,000
Shifting Public Perception
One of the most transformative impacts has been a change in attitudes towards poaching. Through targeted awareness campaigns that have reached over 9,000 people in the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, communities are increasignly viewing poaching not just as a conservation issue – but as a serious threat to national security and economy.
This shift in perception is helping to build stronger grassroots support for wildlife protection, ensuring sustainability beyond enforcement measures alone.
Strengthening Systems and Policies
A major win has been the launch of the National Anti-Poaching Strategy (NAPS 2023–2033), supported by a USD 169 million fundraising plan.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Government has integrated operations of the National Taskforce Anti-Poaching and Tasking and Coordination Groups (TCGs) into its Government budget through revenues generated from wildlife tourism.
Legal reforms have also improved accessibility and enforcement. Key regulations have been translated into Kiswahili, and more than 550 officers from police, judiciary, TAWA, and community organizations have received advanced training.
Community at the Heart of Conservation
At its core, this project is people-powered. Over 222,000 community members have been engaged through alternative livelihoods and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation strategies.
Participating communities have been supported with more than 2,000 beehives to promote sustainable income and reduce dependency on wildlife. In Chamwino and WAGA Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), women are now taking the lead, marking a historic shift in conservation governance.
Communities in the Ruaha–Rungwa ecosystem are playing an active role in combating poaching and illegal wildlife activities by monitoring incidents within their areas and promptly reporting them to law enforcement through a dedicated community monitoring network linked to tasking and coordination groups. Building on the success of this model, the network is now being expanded to 50 poaching hotspot villages in the Ugalla–Moyowosi ecosystem. This grassroots approach is proving vital in detecting threats early and enabling rapid responses to prevent wildlife crimes before they occur.
Protecting wildlife starts with inspiring hearts and minds. Tanzania’s youth are learning to safeguard our natural heritage for generations to come
Innovation in Action
The project is also embracing technology. It has equipped wildlife agencies with 20 motorbikes, 12 Land Cruisers, 7 drones, and a wide array of monitoring tools and surveillance equipment.
A Wildlife and Forest Crime Information System is now operational, with five modules and a new central command centre at MNRT headquarters nearing completion.
Challenges Met with Commitment
Like any complex initiative, the project has faced challenges—including delays in funding disbursement and disruptions from local elections for community based activities requiring community dialogue. But with strong leadership, adaptive management, and tenacious collaboration from stakeholders, it continues to push forward.
At the 9th Project Steering Committee Meeting in July 2025, Dr. Alexander Lobora, MNRT’s Director of Wildlife, applauded the team: “This project is delivering real, measurable, and lasting impact.” UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment: “Let us move forward with urgency and unity to protect Tanzania’s natural treasures for generations to come.”
Looking Ahead
As the project enters its final year, stakeholders are focused on sustaining progress beyond GEF support. The foundation is strong: policy, enforcement, communities, and innovation are working in harmony.
This is more than a conservation success story—it's a blueprint for how countries can protect nature, empower people, and build resilient futures.
"Tanzania’s fight against poaching is delivering lasting impact—protecting over 60,000 elephants, empowering communities, and setting a global standard for conservation.”
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