Sustainability and Long Term-Tenure: Lion Trophy Hunting in Tanzania

Research on lion trophy hunting in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve reveals that short-term leases lead to higher but unsustainable offtake levels, while long-term tenure aligns more closely with sustainable hunting quotas. The study found that blocks under short-term tenure experienced steeper declines in lion populations and generated higher government revenue ($133 per km²) compared to long-term tenure blocks ($62 per km²), which better matched the recommended sustainable offtake (0.92 lions per 1000 km²). The findings underscore the importance of property rights and tenure systems in balancing conservation and financial goals, advocating for a shift toward competitive market-based approaches with long-term leases to ensure sustainability.

Brink, H., Smith, R. J., Skinner, K., & Leader-Williams, N. (2016). Sustainability and Long Term-Tenure: Lion Trophy Hunting in Tanzania. Plos One, 11(9), e0162610. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162610