Landscape and Conservation Mentors Organization (LCMO)
Promoting coexistence between people and lions in western Tanzania
What was once a traditional Sukuma dance used to protect a community from dangerous predators, is today becoming a threat to lion populations as individuals began to hunt and kill non-problematic lions to be rewarded in celebration and gifts. LCMO was established to address this problem by helping agropastoralist Sukuma communities in western Tanzania find ways to coexist with lions through monitoring, warning systems, and education.
LCMO’s success in working with communities has allowed it to expand its area of support, and today it works with 40 villages scattered in Western Tanzania to mitigate human lion conflict. Their work is critical in this area as they are the only local conservation organization working in this landscape addressing human-lion conflict. Immigration is challenging the implementation of land-use plans, and the interaction between people and lions (and other wildlife, including elephants, hyaenas, and hippopotamus) is intensifying, leading to more conflicts.
LCMO is addressing these issues and working with communities surrounding important wildlife areas, such as the community wildlife management area of Mpimbwe (bordering Katavi National Park) and Ipole (bordering Ugalla National Park).
Reduced incidents of traditional lion killing in the south of Katavi National Park:
Cattle keepers (the Sukuma agro-pastoralists) in the area have become increasingly aware of the killing of non-problem lions for rewards. This increased awareness has saved an estimated average of 5 lions per year since launch. Reports of traditional “lion dance” south of Katavi are now rare. Unfortunately, in areas around Ugalla National Park, “lion dance” incidents are still reported, which is why LCMO is turning its attention there.
LCMO has expanded from south Katavi to other remote villages around PAs in the complex Rukwa-Katavi-Mahale-Ugalla-Kigosi ecosystem.
They also work with communities surrounding 4 National Parks and 8 Game Reserves, and supports efforts in 3 Wildlife Management Areas.