Tanzanian Conservationist Elvis Kisimir Honored With Diane Skinner Award for Unsung Heroes

Arusha, Tanzania – March 12, 2026 — African People & Wildlife proudly announces that Elvis Kisimir, Human-Wildlife Coexistence Senior Program Officer, has been named a recipient of the Diane Skinner Award for Unsung Heroes in Conservation.

The award was presented at the recent Business of Conservation Conference in Nairobi by the Painted Wolf Foundation in partnership with the African Leadership University’s School of Wildlife Conservation. It recognizes conservation leaders across Africa whose consistent service strengthens both communities and wildlife.

For sixteen years, Kisimir has contributed to advancing community-led coexistence efforts across Tanzania. A member of the Maasai community, he began his conservation journey as a young moran (warrior) who understood personally the realities pastoralist families face when wildlife threatens livestock and crops. He chose to help shape solutions that reduce conflict while protecting the natural world.

“To me, the world is turning the wrong way if we do not give sustainable conservation a chance, because our future is tied to how we protect nature,” he says. “With this award, I feel more empowered to tell the younger generation that their tomorrow depends on conservation.”

Since joining African People & Wildlife in 2010, Kisimir has collaborated with village leaders, community members, and conservation partners to expand the Warriors for Wildlife network—now nearly 200 community-based coexistence officers and local game scouts operating across northern and central Tanzania. These officers respond to incidents involving large carnivores, elephants, and other species, helping reduce tensions and prevent retaliation.

Kisimir has also played an important role in developing and strengthening the Living Walls initiative, a locally designed livestock protection system that combines reinforced enclosures with living trees. From early pilots to more than 2,100 Living Walls installed in high-conflict areas, the initiative has achieved 98 percent effectiveness in preventing nighttime carnivore attacks. Today, these structures protect livestock valued at more than $30 million and benefit more than 25,000 Tanzanians, while increasing tolerance for six large carnivore species.

Across the Tarangire–Manyara ecosystem, scientific monitoring shows encouraging trends in lion populations, with an estimated 600 or more lions now living in areas supported by African People & Wildlife’s coexistence programming. This progress reflects the joint commitment of communities, conservation practitioners, and national authorities to securing Tanzania’s wildlife heritage.

In recent years, Kisimir has also supported expanded responses to human–elephant conflict around the Ngorongoro landscape, strengthening training, coordination, and rapid response to crop-raiding incidents. Early findings show measurable reductions in conflict, demonstrating the adaptability of African People & Wildlife’s community-based conservation model.

“Elvis joined African People & Wildlife as a young warrior and conservation practitioner. From the very beginning, he took pride in protecting both people and wildlife and helping others see coexistence not as a compromise, but as a strength,” said Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld, Co-Founder and CEO of African People & Wildlife, who nominated him for the award.

“In the spirit of Diane Skinner and her legacy, Elvis’s work reflects a lifetime of commitment and shows the kind of leadership shaping the future of conservation in Tanzania and beyond. He is a key member of the team who built African People & Wildlife into the organization it is today, and we couldn’t have done it without him.”

About African People & Wildlife
African People & Wildlife 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. African People & Wildlife’s inclusive and holistic approach to conservation drives effective, measurable, and lasting outcomes for people and nature. Founded in 2005, African People & Wildlife is a recognized leader in the field of community-driven conservation. For more information, visit africanpeoplewildlife.org. 

Media Contact
‍Katy Teson
High-resolution photos and video are available by request.

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