20 Years of Community-Led Conservation
This year marks two decades since African People & Wildlife first took root on the Maasai Steppe, guided by a bold idea that people and wildlife could thrive together.
What started with one Living Wall has grown into a collaborative effort with more than 80 communities across northern Tanzania. Along the way, we’ve learned from elders, partnered with women and youth, and rooted our work in trust—symbolized by the gift of land that became the Noloholo Environmental Center.
As climate shifts and population pressures mount, the work feels more urgent than ever. But we see hope everywhere: in restored grasslands, in practical coexistence tools, and in the leadership rising from within.
Explore our interactive timeline to reflect on 20 years of progress, or dive into our full 20th Anniversary Impact Report to see what we’ve achieved together.
This is what momentum looks like. Even with uncertainty, we move forward.
Neovitus Sianga, Community Conservation and Environment Director
First Collars Deployed in Mkomazi
In the Greater Mkomazi landscape, five elephants have been safely collared, marking the start of a community-driven effort to understand elephant movement and reduce conflict. Over the past month, APW held discussions with eight priority villages in Mwanga and Same districts. Each community was eager to partner and urged us to begin the collaboration immediately. With elephants already in the fields and crops at risk, the need is now. And despite a major funding freeze, the team is pressing forward.
“This is what momentum looks like,” says Neovitus Sianga, Community Conservation and Environment Director. “Even with uncertainty, we move forward.”
Community Game Scouts Keep Watch
In 2024, APW’s Community Game Scouts documented 11,134 animals from 25 species across their transects in the Tarangire-Manyara landscape, including five aardwolves and the highest number of elephants ever recorded. Zebra and impala made up most of the sightings, and not surprisingly, the lands closer to Tarangire National Park remained the most wildlife-rich.
Though overall numbers dipped in 2024, possibly due to drought, the scouts continued to successfully prevent poaching and to provide essential, long-term data that informs our understanding of wildlife trends. They’ll also return to compete in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge in September, representing Tanzania as multi-year champions.
A Buzz of Activity
In late March, women from across the region gathered in Loibor Siret for the handover of new beehives and equipment at the Women’s Enterprise Center. Local leaders, including the District Commissioner, joined the event, which marked a meaningful milestone for women-led conservation enterprises. While this was the first center of its kind supported by APW, a second is nearly complete and planning is underway for a third this year!
Building Resilient Grasslands
Across Tanzania’s drylands, communities are leading the way in grassland conservation, combining traditional practices with data from the field.
In April, APW signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, strengthening the link between local action and national priorities. In the Mkomazi landscape, six villages recently gathered for refresher training. Grazing committees and rangeland monitors reviewed field data and agreed on coordinated plans to manage their shared lands.
Loshiro Morindat, Rangeland Management Program Officer, reports “The feedback from village councils has been encouraging. They’re using data to make timely decisions, and that’s how restoration sticks.”
Read more in our post on the Esri Conservation Blog »
“I Want to Learn”
At 14 years old, Matasia presented her family in Loibor Siret with a clear message: she wanted to stay in school. In a community where early marriage is common, her decision reflected deep conviction and a growing sense of possibility. “I want to learn,” she told them. “I want to become a veterinarian.”
That vision grew stronger during the inaugural Women & Wildlife Camp at the Noloholo Environmental Center, where Matasia joined 33 other girls for a week of connection and hands-on learning. The camp was led by women from APW’s team and by African Women in Conservation mentees—young leaders walking their own paths into conservation careers. “It was my first time seeing women working in wildlife. I saw that it could be me.”
As mentorship programs expand, more young women like Matasia are finding the courage to imagine new futures that honor their communities while shaping conservation from within.
Field Notes
AWARD | StoryMap Spotlight
Our story about elephant coexistence work in Ngorongoro was named a winner in the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition!
PARTNERS | Disney Conservation Turns 30
We’re honored to be featured in the Disney Conservation Fund’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Spot APW images and stories in their look back at three decades of impact for big cats and other wildlife.
PUBLICATION | Strategic Plan Update
A new version of our strategic plan is now available, highlighting achievements to date and our path forward through 2030.
Help Keep the Work Going
Monthly giving is one of the most reliable ways to support lasting conservation. Your ongoing gift at any level helps ensure we can respond quickly, train local leaders, and stay present in the places that need us most.