The government has rolled out an expanded conservation education programme targeting youth and students living in communities surrounding Ugalla River National Park, in a fresh push to strengthen environmental protection and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Presenting the plan in Parliament, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hamad Hassan Chande, said the initiative is designed to deepen public understanding of conservation and drive long-term behavioural change, particularly among younger generations.
He was responding to a question from Member of Parliament Jacqueline Kainja Andrew, who sought details on government efforts to educate communities living near the Ugalla ecosystem in Urambo District.
Mr Chande said the ministry has scheduled 112 outreach sessions expected to reach more than 11,860 people through a mix of public meetings, village assemblies, school programmes, exhibitions, mobile cinema shows, educational tours within the park, sports activities and stakeholder forums.
The approach reflects a shift towards more inclusive and practical engagement, combining formal education with community-based awareness campaigns.
He said that since the park was established in 2019, the government has steadily invested in conservation education, with 60 public meetings conducted and reaching about 10,000 people.
In addition, 505 conservation education sessions have engaged more than 58,100 citizens.
Outreach has also extended to grassroots structures, with 102 village meetings reaching about 8,000 residents, alongside 160 school sessions conducted in Urambo and Kaliua districts, benefiting approximately 15,000 students.
To widen reach and improve accessibility, the government has introduced conservation-themed mobile cinema campaigns, with 49 screenings attracting around 8,500 participants.
Mr Chande said the programmes are aimed at nurturing a conservation culture within communities, noting that empowering young people with knowledge is critical to safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring long-term sustainability of natural resources.
Separately, the government is intensifying efforts to address human-wildlife conflict in Itigi Constituency, Singida Region, where incidents involving dangerous animals have been reported.
Mr Chande said a permanent ranger post has been established in Doroto village, supported by three temporary camps in Chisingisa, Sanjaranda and Kitaraka villages to enable faster response to wildlife incidents.
The interventions are being implemented in collaboration with conservation stakeholders, including the Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, as part of a broader strategy to protect both communities and wildlife.
