Conservation and Livelihood Diversification in Northern Tanzania

Timothy D. Baird, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

By focusing on PAs as centers of uncertainty, upheaval, and disturbance, this study examines the character and incidence of livelihood diversification within communities near Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania compared to control communities. Livelihood diversification is well understood as an ex post coping strategy and an ex post risk mitigation strategy pursued in response to various type of shocks, and uncertainty more generally. This study draws on mixed qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis, including a structured survey of households (n=216), to construct multivariate statistical models to estimate the effect of proximity to TNP on measures of livelihood diversification while controlling for other factors. The results indicate that proximity to TNP is strongly correlated with livelihood diversification suggesting that households near the have adopted a diversified portfolio of economic activities in response to disturbances associated with the park.