Assessment On Impact Of Human Population Pressure On The Sustainabilty Of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

ABSTRACT

This study has assessed the impact of human population pressure on the sustainability of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, at three selected villages namely: Enduleni, Ngorongoro and Nainokanoka. Data were collected by using Household questionnaires survey, focus group discussion and interviews. One hundred respondents and thirteen key informants were involved in the study. Quantitative Data, were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16.1 and content analysis was used for qualitative information. Results of the study have revealed that, human population in study area has continued to increase in average of 30% to 40%. Majority of the respondents felt that, there were challenges facing the NCA in controlling human population pressure, on the sustainability of NCA which were lack of family planning education (32%), availability of land for socio-economic activities like livestock keeping tourism and business activities (25.5%), Immigration of the people to NCA (24%). However, there had conservation threats results due to human population increase within NCA, which was destruction of natural vegetation (27%), wild animals became more vigilant (17.6%), Poaching (10.9%), the exchange of diseases between domesticated animals and wild animals (12.9%). The study concludes that, NCA is very important in Tourism sector in Tanzania, Therefore there is a need for the Government, NGO‟s and tourism stakeholders, to ensure that human population pressure was reduced by making campaign on family planning education, controlling of Political pressure and restricting immigrants for the sustainability of the NCA. Moreover there had suggested ways on how to reduce human population growth, within NCA for the sustainable conservation such as restricting immigrants within NCA, controlling political pressure, provision of environmental education and enforcement of environmental by laws.