The Trump administration’s decision to halt USAID funding has left two major conservation initiatives in Tanzania—USAID PROTECT and USAID Endangered Ecosystems Northern Tanzania (EENT)—without crucial support. These projects have been critical to protecting biodiversity, empowering local communities, and ensuring sustainable land use in key conservation areas such as Tarangire National Park.
With USAID’s funding withdrawn, wildlife conservation efforts, anti-poaching measures, land use planning, and community-led tourism initiatives are now at serious risk. This report provides a detailed analysis of these two major conservation programs, how much they were funded, and how their absence will negatively impact Tarangire National Park and surrounding ecosystems.
USAID PROTECT Project: $19.1 Million to Support Wildlife, Conservation, and Tourism
Overview of USAID PROTECT
The USAID Promoting Tanzania’s Environment, Conservation, and Tourism (PROTECT) Project was designed to combat threats to biodiversity, strengthen wildlife policies, and increase investment in conservation-focused tourism.
Key Achievements of USAID PROTECT
- $19.1 million funded conservation programs across Tanzania from April 2015 – December 2020.
- $3.2 million in grants awarded to organizations working on conservation, including:
- Jane Goodall Institute (JGI)
- Southern Tanzania Elephant Program
- Honeyguide Foundation
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO)
- Chem Chem Association
- Strengthened wildlife crime prosecution, training 59 officials on the use of Rapid Reference Guide for Wildlife Crimes.
- Supported strategic planning for key conservation institutions such as Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and College of African Wildlife (Mweka).
- Helped establish the Wildlife Corridor Regulations 2018, ensuring habitat connectivity across Tanzania.
What Tarangire Will Lose Without USAID PROTECT
- Loss of Wildlife Protection – With funding gone, anti-poaching patrols in Tarangire National Park will be severely weakened, making elephants, lions, and antelopes more vulnerable to illegal hunting.
- Collapse of Community-Based Conservation – Tarangire’s local communities rely on sustainable tourism to support their livelihoods. Without USAID’s funding, employment for park rangers, tour guides, and local conservation groups will decline.
- Increase in Wildlife Crime – Programs supporting law enforcement training for prosecuting wildlife traffickers will no longer continue, making Tarangire’s biodiversity more vulnerable to poaching and habitat destruction.
USAID Endangered Ecosystems Northern Tanzania (EENT) Project: $10 Million for Rangeland and Wildlife Corridor Protection
Overview of USAID EENT
The USAID Endangered Ecosystems Northern Tanzania (EENT) Project was launched to secure the ecological health of Tarangire, Manyara, and the Maasai Steppe ecosystems. This initiative provided essential funding for wildlife corridors, land use planning, and community-based conservation.
Key Achievements of USAID EENT
- $10 million funded from September 2015 – September 2020.
- Supported Northern Tanzania Rangelands Initiative (NTRI), a partnership of 10 conservation groups.
- Protected 585,000 hectares of critical wildlife habitat across Tarangire, Manyara, and Maasai Steppe.
- Established multi-village land use plans to prevent habitat destruction and balance conservation with pastoralism.
- Enabled 1,400 households to adopt human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies, building 334 “living walls” to protect livestock from predators.
- Provided direct economic benefits to 15,000 people through sustainable conservation activities.
What Tarangire Will Lose Without USAID EENT
- Breakdown of Wildlife Corridors – Tarangire depends on wildlife corridors connecting it to surrounding landscapes. Without USAID funding, unregulated land use will fragment habitats, preventing seasonal migrations of elephants, zebras, and wildebeests.
- Increase in Human-Wildlife Conflict – Without funding for living walls and community engagement, livestock predation will rise, leading to more retaliatory killings of lions and other carnivores.
- Collapse of Sustainable Livelihoods – USAID-supported initiatives like beekeeping, leather tanning, and eco-tourism microenterprises will shut down, leaving thousands of rural Tanzanians without income.
Broader Implications of USAID Funding Freeze
The USAID funding freeze is not just about money—it threatens the very foundation of conservation in Northern Tanzania. Without USAID PROTECT and EENT, Tarangire National Park and surrounding communities will face:
- Increase in Illegal Poaching – Fewer patrols and weakened law enforcement will make Tarangire’s wildlife an easy target.
- Loss of Economic Opportunities – Thousands of jobs in eco-tourism, conservation, and community enterprises will disappear.
- Severe Habitat Destruction – Without land use planning and community cooperation, wildlife corridors will be lost, leading to severe ecological damage.
- Decline in Tanzania’s Global Conservation Leadership – USAID has helped Tanzania set global standards for conservation. Losing this funding weakens its ability to protect wildlife and attract future investment.
Impacts on Tarangire and Northern Tanzania if USAID PROTECT and EENT Are Phased Out
The USAID PROTECT and Endangered Ecosystems Northern Tanzania (EENT) programs have been instrumental in conservation, land management, and community engagement. Their phase-out would have severe ecological, economic, and social consequences for Tarangire National Park and surrounding areas.
1. Increased Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade
- USAID PROTECT funded anti-poaching patrols and supported law enforcement training for prosecuting wildlife traffickers.
- Without these efforts, ranger patrols will be reduced, making it easier for poachers to kill elephants, zebras, and lions.
- The Wildlife Corridor Regulations 2018, which protected migratory routes, may no longer be enforced, leading to an uptick in illegal hunting and bushmeat trade.
2. Collapse of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Fragmentation
- USAID EENT supported land-use planning to maintain key wildlife corridors between Tarangire, Manyara, and the Maasai Steppe.
- Without funding, unregulated expansion of farms and settlements will disrupt migratory routes, trapping animals within isolated zones and leading to genetic bottlenecks.
- Over 585,000 hectares of biologically significant land that had improved protection may be lost to deforestation and agriculture.
3. Loss of Community Livelihoods and Increased Poverty
- Over 15,000 people were benefiting economically from sustainable conservation-linked activities such as beekeeping, eco-tourism, and leather tanning under USAID EENT.
- Without funding, these income-generating activities will collapse, forcing communities to turn to illegal hunting, charcoal burning, and unregulated farming for survival.
- Programs that trained women and youth in economic empowerment will also be cut, reducing economic opportunities for vulnerable groups.
4. Escalation of Human-Wildlife Conflict
- USAID EENT built over 334 “living walls” to protect livestock from predators such as lions and leopards.
- If the program ends, communities will lack support to build predator-proof enclosures, leading to more retaliatory killings of lions and cheetahs.
- Farmers will resort to poisoning predators that attack livestock, leading to unintended ecological consequences and species decline.
5. Weakened Eco-Tourism Sector and Economic Decline
- The USAID PROTECT program strengthened Tanzania’s tourism industry, funding Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and national tourism boards to attract visitors.
- Tarangire National Park, a key tourism hub, relies on conservation to maintain its wildlife appeal—if funding stops, visitor numbers will drop.
- Fewer tourists mean reduced revenue for lodges, tour operators, and local businesses, directly impacting job creation in the region.
6. Decline in Conservation Research and Wildlife Monitoring
- USAID funded strategic planning for conservation institutions like Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and College of African Wildlife (Mweka).
- Without USAID funding, training programs for rangers, ecologists, and researchers will be cut, leading to weaker enforcement and conservation policies.
- The phase-out will cripple long-term conservation efforts, as less data will be available to track wildlife trends, disease outbreaks, and climate change effects.
7. Tanzania’s Global Reputation as a Conservation Leader Will Diminish
- Tanzania has been a global leader in conservation, largely due to international support from programs like USAID PROTECT and EENT.
- With funding halted, conservation efforts will weaken, and Tanzania’s ability to attract other international donors will be compromised.
- This could affect future partnerships with global organizations such as WWF, African Wildlife Foundation, and UNESCO.
Conclusion: The Urgent Need for Alternative Funding
If USAID PROTECT and EENT are phased out completely, the negative impacts on Tarangire and Northern Tanzania will be immediate and severe. Without intervention:
✅ Wildlife will suffer from increased poaching
✅ Human-wildlife conflict will rise
✅ Community livelihoods will collapse
✅ Tourism revenue will decline
✅ Tanzania’s conservation legacy will be at risk
To mitigate these losses, urgent efforts must be made to secure alternative funding from other donors, private investors, and government initiatives. The future of Tarangire’s wildlife, local communities, and Tanzania’s eco-tourism industry depends on swift action.
How the Tanzanian Government and Local Authorities Can Sustain Critical Conservation Programs Amid USAID’s Funding Freeze
The USAID funding freeze has put Tanzania’s critical conservation programs, including USAID PROTECT and USAID EENT, at risk. Without immediate intervention, wildlife protection, sustainable land use, and community-driven conservation efforts in areas like Tarangire National Park and the Maasai Steppe will suffer. However, the Tanzanian government and local authorities can step in to mitigate the impact by implementing innovative financial mechanisms, strengthening policies, and increasing private sector involvement.
1. Strengthening Government Funding for Conservation
Increase Budget Allocations for Conservation Efforts
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) should increase direct budget allocations to sustain wildlife conservation and community-based programs.
- Establish ring-fenced conservation funds within the national budget to ensure continuous support for anti-poaching patrols, wildlife corridors, and eco-tourism initiatives.
Expand Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
- The government can collaborate with safari operators, tour companies, and conservation NGOs to raise conservation funds.
- Revenue-sharing models with private lodges in Tarangire and Serengeti can help fund ranger patrols and wildlife monitoring.
Leverage Tourism Revenue More Effectively
- Introduce a conservation levy on park entry fees, hotel stays, and safari packages to directly fund conservation programs.
- Ensure that a percentage of park fees collected by TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority) is redirected toward community-driven conservation projects.
2. Mobilizing Local Government Action
Strengthen Land Use Planning and Zoning
- District and village councils should enforce sustainable land use policies to protect wildlife corridors and prevent habitat destruction.
- Expand Village Land Use Plans (VLUPs) to regulate farming and grazing near protected areas like Tarangire.
Engage Local Governments in Conservation Governance
- Increase the role of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) by providing them with greater financial and technical support.
- Introduce local conservation taxes to fund wildlife protection efforts.
- Enhance community-led conservation governance by integrating local leaders into decision-making forums.
3. Securing Alternative International and Regional Funding
Seek Funding from New International Donors
- Tanzania can engage new donors like the EU, UK, and China to support conservation programs through bilateral agreements.
- Apply for grants from global conservation funds like the African Wildlife Foundation, WWF, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Leverage the African Union and East African Community (EAC)
- Work with regional organizations to develop joint conservation initiatives and secure cross-border conservation funding.
- Advocate for an East African Conservation Fund to support projects in transboundary parks like the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
4. Encouraging Private Sector and Community Investment
Expand Conservation-Based Enterprises
- Develop community-owned tourism enterprises such as eco-lodges, cultural tourism centers, and wildlife safaris.
- Provide financial incentives (tax breaks, low-interest loans) for businesses that invest in conservation.
Promote Carbon Offsetting and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
- Encourage companies to invest in carbon offset programs that support rangeland restoration.
- Implement payment-for-conservation programs where companies pay communities for maintaining protected areas.
Strengthen Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives
- Engage private companies in conservation by encouraging CSR funding for anti-poaching efforts and conservation education.
- Partner with safari operators and hotels to fund wildlife monitoring and local ranger patrols.
5. Enhancing Anti-Poaching and Law Enforcement Capabilities
Increase Local Law Enforcement Capacity
- Expand ranger training programs using alternative funding from tourism revenues and partnerships.
- Equip rangers with modern surveillance technology like drones and tracking devices to improve anti-poaching efforts.
Enhance Legal Protections for Wildlife
- Strengthen penalties for poaching, wildlife trafficking, and illegal land encroachment.
- Improve judicial capacity by training more prosecutors and magistrates to handle wildlife-related crimes effectively.
Conclusion: Tanzania Must Take Ownership of Its Conservation Future
The USAID funding freeze presents a major challenge, but it also provides an opportunity for Tanzania to take full ownership of its conservation future. By diversifying funding sources, strengthening local governance, and engaging the private sector, Tanzania can sustain its critical conservation programs and protect Tarangire National Park for future generations.
Conclusion: What Needs to Happen Next
To mitigate the disastrous effects of USAID’s withdrawal, conservationists, the private sector, and the Tanzanian government must urgently step in to fill the funding gap. Recommended actions include:
- Seeking Alternative Donors – Organizations like the African Wildlife Foundation, WWF, and UNESCO must step in to support projects.
- Increasing Private Sector Investment – Tanzania’s tourism industry must expand conservation funding through park fees, levies, and partnerships.
- Advocating for Reinstatement of USAID Funding – Conservation groups must push the U.S. government to restore funding under new leadership.
The reality is clear—without USAID’s support, Tarangire and other national parks will suffer from increased poaching, habitat loss, and economic decline. The world cannot afford to let these conservation successes collapse due to political decisions beyond Tanzania’s control. The time to act is now.