The multiple land use dilemmas of the Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), in Northern Tanzania, was among the first areas established as Multiple Land Use Model (MLUM) to foster coexistence between wildlife and the semi‑nomadic Maasai community. Over time, growing tourism interest in the Maasai and the gradual transition towards a service economy contributed to nomadic sedentarisation and population growth straining NCA’s resilience as a Socio‑Ecological System (SES). This paper builds on Political Ecology and Systems Theory to assess the MLUM’s effectiveness amidst expanding tourism development and a growing local population within UNESCO‑designated Biosphere Reserves. A two‑decade analysis of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes in the NCA uncovers the long‑term impacts of sixty years of policy interventions and the associated dynamic interactions and feedback‑loops between ecosystem services, tourism‑driven human activity, market pressures and evolving socio‑cultural values. By integrating these theoretical lenses, the study offers a nuanced exploration of the complexity surrounding Biosphere SES transitions and resilience amidst tourism development. The findings emphasize the enduring tensions among conservation goals, tourism expansion, and the evolving socio‑economic needs of indigenous communities, challenging the adaptability of MLUM to balance development in Biosphere Reserves while upholding cultural and environmental integrity overtime.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2025.2500965