In the fourth episode of the convivial conservation podcast, Dr Wilhelm Kiwango and Dr Mathew Bukhi Mabele, the Tanzanian team of the CONVIVA – convivial conservation research project, share with Prof Dan Brockington (University of Sheffield) what CONVIVA Tanzania has been up to (recorded in November 2021).

Mathew and Wilhelm, both from the University of Dodoma, first describe their project on human-lion interactions in the Ruaha-Rungwa landscape in Tanzania in straightforward language (01:35). Wilhelm then reflects on his trip to Kenya to visit the Big Life Foundation and the Lion Guardians, and the lessons learnt for convivial conservation in Tanzania (02:50), including the possibility of community insurance compensation (07:10).

Next, Mathew and Wilhelm reflect on their writing projects (10:20), including adapting convivial conservation to Tanzania, as well as using the Ubuntu ethic of care and its viability in producing just conservation in southern Africa (14:35). Finally, Mathew reflects on co-writing a blog to challenge the ways ‘decolonizing conservation’ is discussed, and the importance of understanding it as epistemic disruption and challenging powers of system and knowledge around conservation (19:35). They end on a glimpse of what is coming up for the CONVIVA Tanzania team in terms of fieldwork and research (24:35).

All music by KO:MI: open.spotify.com/artist/0UjtiwAIQXyBw6OlNRZsJV

The CONVIVA - convivial conservation research project is funded by NORFACE/The Belmont Forum.

Thanks very much for listening!

More info: conviva-research.com/convivialconservation.com/@convivconserv.