PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The project aims to develop a holistic long-term landscape protection strategy in the foothills of the Udzungwa Mountains in the Kilombero Valley in Tanzania. As part of this integrated, long-term strategy, the plan acts on several fronts:

 Phase 1 - The restoration of ecological connectivity affected by anthropogenic pressures and intensive agriculture, through the creation of the Kilombero Elephant Corridor (KEC). The corridor connects the Nyerere (Selous) National Park to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, allowing lowland and mountain elephants from the two parks to transit from one to the other without interfering with humans.

The Fondazione Capellino works alongside a local NGO in the construction of the 13 km ecological corridor and provides monitoring activities, including awarding two grants to a local university for a research project.


Phase 2 - The holistic strategy of long-term landscape protection through circular economy solutions, to sustainably improve the quality of life of local communities who, in return, will commit to the perpetual care of the corridor and the safety of elephants and other wildlife in the valley. Various actions can be realised with a pool of partners in this direction: a new factory producing bricks from sugar cane and rice waste; a photovoltaic power plant offering renewable energy to the corridor and neighbouring villages, for a definitive abandonment of fossil fuels; solar cookers replacing coal and wood in food preparation. In addition, farmers can be supported in the development of biodiverse farming practices guaranteeing independence to local low-income communities, in parallel with women's empowerment and education programmes for population containment, reducing the impact of humans on nature.

This holistic landscape strategy project becomes an example of Reintegration Economy, demonstrating that an alternative economic model is indeed possible.