ECONOMY, ECOLOGY, AND EVICTIONS: The Triple-Win Dilemma in Ngorongoro and Serengeti

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of different management styles implemented at conservation sites on achieving the "triple-win" scenario in economic and environmental development and the well-being of indigenous populations. The research is motivated by literature on various forms of green grabs, which have emerged alongside modern conservation efforts and promote the idea of profiting from environmental protection. The study examines which form of green-grabbing policies in modern conservation efforts can effectively ensure the desired goals of green development. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following research question: if green-grabbing policies are implemented, do they effectively ensure the intended goals of green development are achieved? To answer the research question, I draw on the cases of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, which are similar in almost all respects except for their treatment of the Maasai. My analysis reveals that, in reality, neither of the conservation sites employs a collaborative approach, thus resulting in a minimal connection between their successes or failures in achieving developmental goals and conservation management. These findings have implications for the development and implementation of conservation policies and practices, underscoring the critical need for comprehensive policy reform, and emphasize the importance of a collaborative approach to conservation that not only recognizes but also incorporates the knowledge, traditional practices, and rights of indigenous communities.