WHAT IF CONSERVATION COULD PAY FOR ITSELF AND UPLIFT THE PEOPLE WHO GUARD IT EVERY DAY?

From 4th to 6th August in Arusha, CWMAC and Honeyguide, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Sustainable Finance Coalition, and the Roads Fund Board gathered to ponder a pivotal question: “What if conservation could pay for itself and uplift the people who guard it every day?” Over three days, I reimagined a future where Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) no longer survive at the mercy of external donors but instead thrive through sustainable, homegrown solutions.

The discussions revealed inspiring possibilities. Farmers would no longer shoulder the full loss when wildlife destroyed their crops, because innovative insurance schemes could offset it. Visitors walking through Tanzania’s landscapes might see how the modest conservation fees they pay go directly back to the local communities protecting those areas. Villages could earn a steady income by preserving forests, storing carbon, and trading “nature credits” in global markets. Ideas like trust funds and environmental funds were envisioned as safety nets to ensure conservation financing never runs dry, while long-term green bonds could fund ambitious initiatives to protect Tanzania’s natural heritage.

This gathering was about dignity and fairness. We discussed lifting the weight of conservation off the shoulders of rural communities and transforming it into an opportunity they can rely on. Imagine where protecting wildlife also means educating children, securing livelihoods, and strengthening local resilience. That is the future we are working towards, and every idea shared moves us one step closer to a reality where conservation pays for itself by directly benefiting the communities that champion it.