Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania TACARE Project Yields Uncertain Results

On our Tanzania trip this summer, all members of our tour group were the guests of the Jane Goodall Institute for three days. We flew into Kigoma airport, was whisked off to the Hilltop Hotel, had time to munch a light lunch snack had an hour or so lecture covering the Jane Goodall Institute Research and Projects, whizzed by the Livingstone Memorial where David Livingstone was held in captivity until journalist Stanley showed up and rescued him.

Brief Sidetrack re: Livingstone and Stanley Meeting in Tanzania

Dr. Livingstone had run into trouble as a result of his anti-slavery activities so the locals jailed him. Dr. Livingstone was rescued, but on his trip home he died. Kigoma's location on the banks of Lake Tanganyika made it a great spot for native slave drivers to rest and relax before the long trip to the slave boats harbored in Zanzibar.

Jane Goodall Institute Lecture and Picnic Dinner near Local Forest Reserve

Our next adventure after a picnic dinner on the shores of Lake Tanganyika prepared by the Jane Goodall staff was a trip up to a forest project planted by the local Kigoma community with native trees and used for recreation.

One of the major threats to the Chimpanzee population studied at Gombe Stream by the Jane Goodall Institute is loss of habitat. As the human population swells (up 20% in the past year), the locals build more and more farms and cut down more trees for fires. The result has been erosion along the banks, fishing problems along the shores, reduction in the population of chimpanzees, and tensions in the population. New comers from across the lake and up and down stream (from Congo, Burundi, Zambia and Rwanda) move into territory and have to be told where to move.

Jane Goodall Institute TACARE Conservation Firewood Reforestation Project

TACARE representatives are using satellite images showing the differences in the village lands from cutting down trees to explain the environmental problem. Once the problem is understood, the village community works with TACARE (if they wish) to change their land use policies. TACARE provides seeds and seedlings of a variety of agricultural plants and trees. We were taken to one village's lands and shown a forest where trees were planted for the sole purpose of providing firewood. The forest was small and healthy and was a major difference in the land use.

As birders though, my husband and I were a bit dissatisfied with the result since the forest was sterile-the mostly pine forest grew quickly but provided no food value for the native wildlife. Most of the villagers preferred local trees that provided shade but again no food value for wildlife. This isn't helping the chimpanzees, except with a ready supply of firewood, the villagers will be unlikely to chop down forests near Gombe National Park.

The up side though was the villagers had a supply of wood for fuel, help with their crops and less erosion. More native species were planted elsewhere we were told and a local tree popular for shade at home. In addition, one of the major ways that the TACARE program differs from traditional aid is the focus on citizen action and responsibility. Corrupt use of aid money's is, according to David k. Leonard and Scott Straus, a major flaw of support programs in Africa. [1]

Jane Goodall Institute TACARE Agriculture Project

After our visit to the forest, we went to a local coffee factory, where the dried seeds are dehusked and sorted for bagging and then shipped out to a bulk buyer where the locals can get a higher price for their beans. TACARE funded the equipment that is managed by the co-op. This has been a hit with local farmers and a boost to the economy.

My View of the Jane Goodall Institute TACARE Projects

For me used to the speed of skyscrapers going up, progress in Tanzania seems slow, especially seen against the backdrop of a former United Nations managed refugee center and the huge growth in population. With a few more dollars and a few more years, this project will likely prove itself of great value but the responsibility rests with local villagers as much as contributors to the Jane Goodall Institute.

If you'd like to see more photographs see Chasing Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park and Jane Goodall Institute TACARE Conservation Project Photographs.

[1] David K. Leonard, Scott Straus, Africa's Stalled Development International Causes and Cures, Lynne Reiner Publishers, 2003