Selous Conservation Project
Protecting one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in Africa

The Selous has a wide variety of habitats including Miombo woodlands, open grasslands, riverine forests, and swamps, with diverse communities of plants and animals. More than 2,100 plant species have been recorded in the region, and the ecosystem is home to globally significant concentrations of elephants, buffalos, hippos and crocodiles, amongst many other species.
In 2014, the Selous Game Reserve was inscribed on the list of ‘World Heritage in Danger’ due to dramatic declines in wildlife populations, especially elephants as a result of poaching. Selous has energy and mineral deposits and potential for hydropower generation. In the south of Selous, a Uranium mine is under development. Carefully balancing development needs with impacts on the ecosystem and livelihoods is becoming ever more important.
What we do
Since 2017, FZS has been an implementing and co-financing partner of the Tanzanian and German governments' joint ‘Selous Ecosystem Conservation and Development Program’ (SECAD). The objective of this program is to strengthen the Selous Game Reserve management and protection through the following activities:
- Providing baseline ecological assessments
- Reviewing and updating the General Management Plan and financial plan
- Developing and implementing management instruments
- Supporting and advising law enforcement through aerial surveillance, improving the communication system and ranger training
- Administering capacity building programs
- Conducting ecosystem monitoring and providing evaluation frameworks in collaboration with partners
- Implementing intensive protection measures for black rhinos
- Establishing ‘Selous Ecosystem Coordination Forum’
With support from the U.S. government, we will be working with the Selous Game Reserve management to further strengthen law enforcement through the training of specialized ranger units.