A MULTIPLE-INSTITUTION CORPORATION'S ENGAGEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF OLDUVAI GORGE, NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA (NCA), TANZANIA

摘要

The Tanzanian government has identified tourism as the most ineentivising factor behind the sustainable conservation and economic development of heritage sites. To this end, the government has been transferring cultural heritage sites from the Antiquities Department to other government heritage agencies with a mandate of conservation and income generation through tourism. The intention is to increase the number of tourist destinations but so far, the experience has not been satisfactory. The purpose of this paper is to argue for sustainable management of archaeological sites in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The aim is to identify ways to mitigate the physical and anthropogenic challenges facing palaeoanthropological sites by assessing existing conservation policies and identifying modalities for sustainable use of cultural resources through tourism and other incentive mechanisms. Through an exploratory study approach, the paper aims to strengthen conservation and to reduce vulnerability to vandalism, thus enhancing sustainable management of cultural resources and community development. It contributes to improving the level of awareness of sustainable use of heritage resources to eradicate poverty. The legal regime for protection of cultural heritage in Tanzania comprises, among others, the Antiquities Act of 1964 (amended in 1979), as well as the National Museum of Tanzania Act of 1980. These Acts provide bases for preservation and protection of sites and articles of palaeontological, archaeological, historical and cultural significance including movable and immovable relics. Besides these Acts, Tanzania has policies (Cultural Policy of 1997 and Cultural Heritage Policy of 2008) guiding the protection and management of heritage resources. These policies provide favourable circumstances for safeguarding intangible and tangible cultural resources, including the empowerment of local communities and other stakeholders.