FZS-SEMP has supported the establishment of Community Conservation Banks (COCOBAs) in several districts throughout the ecosystem. COCOBAs utilize a community savings and banking loans model in which 15-30 community members collectively contribute weekly to a common bank, from which they are later able to take low-interest loans to support conservation-friendly income generating activities. Further supporting the conservation aspect of this enterprise, four of the groups recently established consist entirely of former illegal bushmeat hunters who have agreed to stop poaching...

With the early success of the Community Conservation Banks (COCOBAs) which targeted reformed bushmeat hunters in villages near the Serengeti National Park, the SEMP office was recently approached by other members of Bonchugu village to assist with supporting a football team comprised mainly of poachers. After some discussions, SEMP agreed to meet with the members of the team initially to discuss this request. As a conservation organization, we explained that our interest was to ensure that communities were benefiting from wildlife in ways other than hunting for bushmeat....

The support from the Village council
The meeting began with a moment of silence for the commemoration of the death of the conservation hero Joe Ole Kuwai “the old bull” nicknamed.
Our work to help conserve the Loliondo Forest is progressing well. We recently held meeting with the district council to agree on the goals of sustainably managing this important forest. The District Council agreed to give full support to this initiative, and to empowering the communities. The next step was to meet with the Village councils to discuss how we can...

“The will of the community in Forest Conservation”
By Alais Lendii - Community Development Officer, SEMP

The Loliondo forest is a natural forest which is composed of hard wood and soft wood tree species. It plays an important role within the Serengeti ecosystem as it is the source of water for most of the rivers that runs into the Serengeti National Park and Lake Natron (famous for flamingo nesting). The forests also provide a habitat for wildlife and birds.
Where is the forest?
It is found on Northern part of Tanzania within the Ngorongoro...