Maasai in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Sustainable Development and Traditionality

A long-term study of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) in Tanzania reveals that sustainable coexistence between the Maasai community and wildlife is achievable, but requires strategic adjustments. The research highlights a unique 64-year experiment where traditional Maasai cattle breeding coexists with thriving wild animal populations. However, rising Maasai population and livestock numbers pose new challenges, particularly for the strictly protected zones. Interviews with young Maasai suggest a blend of traditional and modern values, including evolving attitudes toward sexual behavior and health practices like malaria and COVID-19 self-protection. The study proposes partial relocation of the Maasai as a viable solution to reduce resource competition and manage livestock abundance, offering a balanced approach to conservation and development.

Butovskaya, M. L. (2023). Maasai in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Sustainable Development and Traditionality. Asia and Africa Today, (1), 57. https://doi.org/10.31857/s032150750024036-1