African People & Wildlife Honored with IUCN Tech4Nature Award for Community-Led Conservation in Tanzania

Arusha, Tanzania – October 13, 2025 — African People & Wildlife (APW) has been named the winner of the NatureTech Stewards category in the inaugural IUCN Tech4Nature Awards, announced during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The international recognition celebrates APW’s pioneering use of digital technology to support Indigenous stewardship of communal grazing lands in northern Tanzania.

The Tech4Nature Awards, launched jointly by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Huawei, celebrate innovative applications of technology that are making measurable differences for biodiversity, ecosystems, and communities around the world. The awards support the goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including the global commitment to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. Read the official IUCN announcement.

APW received the award for its Sustainable Rangelands Initiative, which combines state-of-the-art Esri geospatial tools with Indigenous knowledge to empower pastoralist communities in sustainably managing over 800,000 acres of grasslands across more than 50 villages.

“This award shows the strength of our communities in Tanzania,” said Neovitus Sianga, APW’s Director of Community Conservation and Environment, who submitted and accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “On behalf of our team, our partners, and our country, I thank the IUCN and the jury, PANORAMA, and Huawei for honoring this example of science, technology, and tradition working together for a sustainable future.”

Through the initiative, local habitat monitors use mobile devices to collect monthly pasture data, which is visualized in custom dashboards and shared through local Conservation Technology Centers. These data-driven insights enable village leaders to make informed decisions about land use that balance livestock production, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem health. To date, the initiative has restored 20,000 acres of degraded land and influenced policy discussions at district, regional, and national levels.

The Tech4Nature Awards form part of the global Tech4Nature partnership between IUCN and Huawei, delivered in collaboration with PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet. This international platform highlights scalable conservation innovations from around the world. APW’s winning approach is featured on PANORAMA as Empowering Community Action for Resilient Grasslands — a scalable and replicable model that demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge and modern technology can work together to build resilient landscapes.

About African People & Wildlife
African People & Wildlife (APW) works hand in hand with communities and other partners to create a healthier and more sustainable world—protecting wildlife, investing in people, and restoring balance to Africa’s vital ecosystems through effective conservation action, applied science, and collective impact. APW’s inclusive and holistic approach to conservation drives effective, measurable, and lasting outcomes for people and nature. Founded in 2005, APW is a recognized leader in the field of community-driven conservation.

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‍Katy Teson
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