Student: Sadie Kurtz
Graduation date: May 2017
Capstone type: Thesis
Capstone project:
Cultural Endangerment vs. Resource Endangerment; A Discourse in the Conflicts Surrounding Land Conservation in Tanzania
Capstone file(s): Show file | Show file
Conservation is a deeply complex political topic in Tanzania. With conservation and the designation of protected areas such as National Parks and Nature Reserves, come benefits for the country, but also risks to indigenous communities. While neither resource conservation nor indigenous land rights is new, the conflict between them continues to draw rifts between communities, outside actors and governments. Tanzania provides a perfect example of the struggle between balancing resource conservation and indigenous rights. As international knowledge and awareness of indigenous rights have increased this thesis looks at how land use strategies have not adapted to depolarize tensions between the different sectors. Despite increased international protections Tanzania has not followed through with their international obligations to indigenous communities due to the financial and political pull of outside actors. By breaking down the polarization and working with competing value sets it’s important to allow all actors to be able to advocate for their needs and desires. This can be seen by the successful implementation of the Certificate of Customary Rights of Occupancy amongst a few indigenous communities in Tanzania.