Human-Wildlife co-existance
"Sisi na Mkonga"
A Path to Peaceful Coexistence along Mikumi-Selous and Selous-Niassa Ecosystems
As Tanzania’s population grows, so does the demand for land, leading to an increasing number of human-elephant conflicts. This poses challenges to both conservation and local development.
Agriculture drives much of this conflict, as communities are pushed to farm near wildlife-protected areas. Elephants, on the other hand, need vast areas to survive. The resulting proximity often leads to devastating consequences—loss of life, destruction of crops, and illegal activities like poaching and charcoal production.
At ECOWICE, we’re addressing this issue through the Sisi na Mkonga Project—meaning “We and Trunk.” The project promotes peaceful coexistence between people and elephants by fostering sustainable solutions for farmers, schools, and communities.
Key elements of the Sisi na Mkonga Project include:
Sustainable Farming of Elephant-Resistant Crops: We encourage the cultivation of crops like sesame and passion fruit—plants that elephants do not prefer. This helps reduce crop losses while providing farmers with a steady income.
Market Support: We assist farmers by connecting them to markets, ensuring they can sell their harvests at fair prices, thereby enhancing their economic security.
Environmental Education: Through our school programs, we engage students and teachers in wildlife conservation, empowering the next generation to protect their environment.
Elephant Monitoring & Beehive Fences: We monitor elephant behavior and implement innovative solutions like beehive fences, which not only deter elephants from crops but also provide honey as an additional income stream for farmers.
By working together—humans and elephants—communities are now able to thrive without risking lives or livelihoods. The support for elephant conservation is growing, as more people understand that coexistence is possible with the right strategies.
The Sisi na Mkonga Project shows that humans and elephants can live in harmony, building a future where both can thrive.
