Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) Conservation Commissioner Massana Mwishawa has directed the authority to widen conservation education programmes to communities living around national parks, saying public participation is critical to the success of wildlife protection.
Mr Mwishawa said on Monday, August 31, 2026, that stronger engagement with neighbouring communities would help address human-wildlife conflicts, protect natural resources and create greater opportunities for residents to benefit from tourism and conservation.
He issued the directive in Dodoma while opening TANAPA’s annual working session for its Community Relations Unit at the authority’s office.
He said conservation education should go beyond raising awareness to equipping communities with practical knowledge that enables them to participate in protecting natural resources and addressing challenges affecting their livelihoods.
“I emphasise the importance of continuing to provide conservation education to communities so that citizens can understand how to address challenges posed by dangerous and destructive wildlife, cope with the effects of climate change, protect water sources and engage in income-generating activities through tourism,” Mr Mwishawa said.
He also urged the Community Relations Unit to strengthen public participation in monitoring and overseeing the implementation of neighbourhood development projects, including encouraging the involvement of different community groups.
According to Mr Mwishawa, the Community Relations Unit has a strategic role in maintaining direct communication between TANAPA and communities surrounding national parks.
He said effective engagement with communities would contribute not only to conservation but also to improved wildlife protection and the safety and security of tourists visiting national parks.
Senior Conservation Officer and Acting Head of the Conservation Section, Glory Summay, said the annual meeting would provide an opportunity to evaluate the unit’s performance, share experiences, identify challenges and formulate strategies for improving cooperation with communities.
“The meeting will give us an opportunity to assess how far we have come, learn from our experiences and develop effective strategies for strengthening relations with communities for the benefit of improving the management of natural resources in national parks,” Ms Summay said.
The meeting is also focusing on improving the unit’s performance, strengthening staff knowledge and skills, particularly in the use of information-collection systems, and developing a shared understanding of effective approaches to community engagement.
The emphasis on community participation comes amid growing recognition that conservation efforts are more sustainable when communities living alongside protected areas are actively involved.
For TANAPA, stronger community engagement is therefore expected to help build trust, improve cooperation in addressing conservation challenges and encourage local communities to see wildlife and protected areas as an important part of their economic and environmental future.