A learning network approach to resolve conservation challenges in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) faces complex and interconnected conservation challenges that defy conventional management strategies. These challenges, categorized as 'wicked problems,' include balancing tourism growth with biodiversity preservation, managing invasive plant species, and addressing livestock and wildlife health issues. The study proposes a learning network approach to resolve these problems by integrating adaptive management with community-based conservation. This approach leverages local ecological and traditional knowledge while fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The research highlights the need for spatial and temporal replication in adaptive management to enhance its effectiveness and calls for a more integrated, community-driven strategy to address the multifaceted issues in the NCA.

Harris, W. E., de Kort, S. R., Bettridge, C. M., Borges, J., Cain, B., Dulle, H. I., Fyumagwa, R., Gadiye, D., Jones, M., Kahana, L., Kibebe, J., Kideghesho, J. R., Kimario, F. F., Kisingo, A., Makari, F., Martin, E., Martin, A., Masuruli, M. B., Melubo, K., et al. (2020). A learning network approach to resolve conservation challenges in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. African Journal of Ecology, 59(1), 326–331. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12815