The Kitulo National Park Transformation and the Implications on Sustainable Livelihoods to Adjacent Local Communities in Makete District, Tanzania

Aims: The study investigates the process of change of the Kitulo plateau to Kitulo national park status and the implications on sustainable livelihoods to adjacent local communities in Makete District.

Study Design: The study adopted a mixed research design which allows for the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a better understanding of the studied subject matter.

Methodology: Simple random and purposive sampling was used to select respondents for the study. Household survey, in-depth interviews, observation and document review methods were used to collect data. The household survey included 114 heads of households. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis and statistical analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) used for quantitative data. Land use changes were captured and presented using Geographical Information System (GIS).

Results: The establishment of the Kitulo National Park from Kitulo plateau was not participatory as 82.5% of local communities were not involved in the process and even during the gazettement of the Kitulo National Park. The main actors in the process of change were government leaders and NGOs (87.7%), TANAPA (8.7%) and local communities (3.6%). These results implies that majority of the people were not involved which may affect in supporting conservation activities. Also, the justifications for the establishment of the park were to improve conservation of water catchment sources and high value of biodiversity. Furthermore, livelihoods benefits were constructing development projects and enhancing livelihoods of neighbouring communities.

Conclusion: The transformation of Kitulo plateau to the Kitulo national park was not bottom up participatory approach which made negative perception and attitude from local community towards the establishment of the park. Therefore, because the park has led to loss of major livelihoods activities to local communities, this paper thus seeks to recommend to increase more livelihood supports benefits and launching of sensitization programme for clear understanding on the purpose of the park and its benefits which will ensure the park sustainability.