This juxtaposition of human poverty and a wealth of biodiversity and habitats creates significant challenges in trying to resolve the trade-offs between conservation and basic human survival. The natural resource base contributes over 30% of the national gross domestic product,1 primarily through agriculture and tourism, and over 75% of Tanzanians depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods.2 The tourism sector holds a promising future for sustainable development.

Tourists come to Tanzania to see pristine landscapes and view wildlife, which incentivizes the preservation of those natural resources as potential sources of income. However, inadequate resource management capacity, poor governance, and inequitable access and sharing of income from resource utilization are some of the problems that negatively impact natural resources and the rural poor who
depend on them.