Ruaha-Idodi project

The awareness of Tanzania’s young generation of the wealth of their national heritage is essential for their identity and self confidence, and vital for the sustainable conservation of Tanzania’s heritage. Some 95% of the Tanzanian children—and adults—has never seen a lion or elephant in the wild, and many have not even seen a picture of a such an animal. Very few are aware of Tanzania’s 12 national parks, their wildlife species, and the values of conservation. Awareness comes through understanding and affection. But one cannot understand what one does not know about, and one cannot have affection for what one has never seen. The aim of the Hugo van Lawick Foundation is to set up ’edutainment’ events centered around professional nature and wildlife photography and film, with information about nature and wildlife species, story telling, assignments, and ultimately safaris for children and teachers for them to see and experience their country’s real life in the wild. The objective is to inspire Tanzanian children, raising their understanding and affection for their country’s heritage and empowering their identity and self confidence, and to stimulate their care for their heritage and its sustainable conservation. The present project, entitled Ruaha – Idodo, is a continuation of the three successful events, which took place in Tanzania during 2002–’03. The project is directed at school children in the rural areas of the Idodi community and Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania. Specific attention will be given to the threatened status of African wild dogs in Africa, of which a small but rapidly declining number of packs still exist in and around the Ruaha Park. Besides pictures, films and other information on the lives of this species, a antirabisin vaccination program of the Idodi domestic dogs will be supported. In addition, the drying out of the Ruaha River will be given a lot of attention. The amount of water has been declining increasingly which has major impacts on the biodiversity and resource users within the Ruaha River Catchment Area. Within the area, water use conflicts arising from increased demand for the scarce resource have been reported. The main project activities are: set up a project support group with representatives of amongst others the Idodi community and Ruaha National Park; select and prepare a project team of 20 Idodi youths to prepare and implement the project; organize a one-week safari for the project team to gain a basic and authentic nature and wildlife experience; organize and implement a pilot safari scheme for 1.500 Ruaha and Idodi children and teachers to Ruaha National Park; plan, prepare and implement guided and interactive edutainment events for neighboring Idodi school children and their teachers, centered around professional nature and wildlife films and photography; provide transport and refreshments for the visiting children and teachers; produce and disseminate edutainment nature and wildlife material; give schools and children nature related assignments, and organize assignment feedback events; produce and air tv and radio documentaries of the events and disseminate them to the Idodi schools and communities; support a antirabisin vaccination of 1.500 domestic dogs in the Ruaha – Idodi area.

The program aims at capacity building, empowerment of educational institutions and communities based on community ownership, and raising the level of nature and wildlife conservation education and activities in the project area. The project has resulted in: - Implementation of a Nature and wildlife edu-tainment program event in which 40 teachers of secondary and primary schools participated. Photos and nature documentaries were key tools in the inspirational and educational event. More than 5000 pupils received a full day program of picture and film viewing, and nature and wildlife teachings. In preparation of the program 80 teachers and officials participated in a 3-day environmental workshop/safari at Ruaha National Park, organized by the park. Following this edu-tainment event, a total of 580 pupils and teachers participated in a 1.5-day educational safari to Ruaha - Implementation of environmental education and activities in all 11 Pawaga schools, that also have started started tree nursing and tree planting. The Idodi Village leaders have decided to fully support environmental activities in their community, and to transform the community into a model environmental community. This has led to the implementation of pilot projects on wild bee honey cultivation, sustainable charcoal production and irrigated horticulture. In addition 10 acres of land have been donated to the Idodi Primary school for maize cultivation and tree planting, (fruit trees amongst others), which will provide food for the school pupils, revitalise the plot of land, and function as an example to the community. - Vaccination of 2150 domestic dogs in the Idodi and Pawaga divisions with antirabisin vaccination to reduce the threat to the Wild hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) population in the area, due to rabies infection.