The Tama Community Conservation Area

Brief of the Tama Community Conservation Area

The Mursi, Bodi, Kwegu, and Ari indigenous groups of southwest Ethiopia have been granted permission for a joint community wildlife conservation area (CCA) after 13 years of petitioning the Ethiopian government. This 500,000-acre area is their ancestral territory. It has giraffe, elephant, lion, cape buffalo, endangered African wild dog, cheetah, leopard, hippo and many other species. These three groups will manage the conservation area and employ scouts from the communities. The CCA will provide economic development for the three groups that have experienced hunger in recent years.

Significant work has been done since 2023 to establish the CCA. The management plan, and bylaws were completed and the community conservation council have been formed. A scout force of 20 Mursi and Bodi scouts are employed to stop hunting, trapping and wildlife trafficking.

Unfortunately, the Tama CCA was severely impacted by the USAID cuts. It is struggling to continue with the loss of this funding and seeking support.

Mursi Territory and the Omo and Mago National Parks