Africa's poor showing in economic development and environmental conservation is partially the result of the absence of strong, transparent, and credible public institutions. The blueprint for Africa's economic rejuvenation can be found in its own backyard; that is, in its own indigenous institutions. Such institutions are the "social cement" which can enable stakeholders to exercise power and often determines who, in life, can adapt or fail. Thus, indigenous institutions are the foundation of any sustainable future.
Conservation efforts throughout Africa have traditionally been inspired by visions of Africa as Earth's 'Last Eden,' with its abundance of wildlife and picturesque natural scenery. Such environmental narratives have their origins in European colonial discourses of nature, which continue to shape cultural perceptions of the African continent today.
The promotion of sustainable park management throughout Africa must take into account the basic needs of local communities. The survival of African wildlife is integral to the stability of the indigenous people who live in the vicinity of parks. Education can be a cost-effective solution to mitigate the downward spiral of human and ecological degradation. Education can also play a key role in fostering environmental sustainability and community livelihoods.
To facilitate a more participatory approach to conservation efforts in western Tanzania, the Gombe School of Environment and Society (GOSESO) was created in order to bridge the gap between human prosperity and wildlife conservation through the promotion of local participation in environmental decision-making, indigenous knowledge, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
GOSESO is located in the heart of Kitobe Forest, within walking distance of Lake Tanganyika and Gombe Stream National Park. Measuring approximately 20 square miles, Gombe is the smallest park in Tanzania. The park is located on the eastern shoreline of Lake Tanganyika, the longest and second-deepest lake, as well as the world’s third largest body of fresh water. Since 1960, Gombe Stream National Park has been a research site of the chimpanzee population made famous by the world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall.
The GOSESO framework addresses pressing issues threatening both people and the environment in Africa while offering lessons with worldwide applicability. The project is born out of a sustainable livelihoods framework that documents how individuals cope with change, how households are able to organize themselves for survival, and how people are united in groups in order to achieve collective action to overcome threats to their livelihoods.
GOSESO has been described as the first serious indigenous-led organization in the Gombe area that has been incorporated in both Tanzania and the United States of America to foster environmental stewardship, economic viability, and human dignity. While the immediate effect of GOSESO is benefiting human and wildlife communities in western Tanzania, the project is being used as a model to affect national and international aspects of conservation and poverty mitigation. We are demonstrating a responsible, sustainable use of resources that can be replicated throughout Tanzania, the balance of Africa, and indeed, worldwide.
