Addressing the Conservation Challenges of Human Population Growth: The Case of the Ugalla Ecosystem in Tanzania

The human population in Africa is predicted to more than double by 2050, making up half of all births worldwide during this period. Such growth will present critical challenges for conservation across Africa if no efforts are made to actively reverse it. Unfortunately, practical steps to address these challenges are rarely discussed. We use the Ugalla ecosystem in Tanzania to explore the relationships between human population and conservation outcomes. This paper draws on our long-term experience as researchers working in Ugalla. We also performed a thorough online search of available literature to identify relevant reference materials, incorporating key words such as population, sub-Saharan Africa, conservation crime, and wildlife. Ugalla is experiencing a significant increase in demand for land and other natural resources from a growing human population. Both farmers and pastoralists compete for land, and pressures on protected areas from unauthorised resource use have escalated. Current rates of population growth around Ugalla must reduce, to preserve wildlife and to ensure food availability for future generations. Ensuring access to modern contraception, advocating family planning, discouraging early marriages and unplanned pregnancies, land-use planning, enhancing capacity for entrepreneurship and livelihood diversification, and facilitating access to economic opportunities for young people are important for addressing population-driven conservation challenges. Changes in the size and composition of human populations present challenges for conservation. Addressing these challenges requires a strong understanding of local livelihoods and socio-ecological contexts. While appropriate measures to ensure local people can live prosperously alongside wildlife will vary according to context, we argue that limiting population growth, despite its perceived controversy, is a key part of the solution. If done in an equitable and socially acceptable way, it can contribute to better conservation policy and practice across Africa.