Environmental Studies Commons^™

Listening To Rafiki: The Past, Present And Future Of Conservation In Tanzania, Leila Wojtkowski Barbeau

Honors College

Utilizing a "fortress conservation model" that emphasizes Western worldviews and divides nature and culture into separate realms, conservation efforts in Tanzania have disenfranchised many indigenous groups like the Maasai and placed their livelihoods at risk. In order for conservation to be a successful endeavor, efforts must take local and indigenous people into account and work to improve the understanding of the relationships between people, land, culture, and historical context. This thesis will explore the historical context and implications of the fortress conservation model, my personal experience with conservation issues while in Tanzania, alternative conservation models and their draw backs, autonomy …