Natural Capital Explores Tanzania
Tanzania, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled natural beauty, is one of the few countries that has successfully met the ambitious 30x30 target – protecting 30% of its terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. With over 200 hunting blocks, accounting for 29% of the country’s surface area, Tanzania stands out as one of the premier safari destinations on the continent. Yet today, many once-thriving hunting areas have become unsustainable, with an increasing number of concessions lying vacant and economically fallow. In the absence of viable economic models to support these wilderness areas, the blocks are at risk of being abandoned and even degazetted, posing a significant threat to Tanzania’s conservation legacy. The need for new and sustainable solutions is urgent to ensure that these irreplaceable natural landscapes are not lost forever.
Enter Natural Capital. We are excited to introduce our innovative conservation investment model - Natural Investments - to Tanzania, focusing on restoring and safeguarding at-risk hunting areas for the long-term. Many of these protected areas have long suffered from a lack of effective management – not because they lack the potential, but because past efforts to implement long-term revenue generation models have fallen short. Opportunities, such as tourism, carbon credits and other nature-based income sources were never fully explored, nor successfully implemented, and attempts to incorporate a blended finance model have been limited. This has left large swathes of valuable wilderness vulnerable to degradation and neglect.
Our approach aims to change this trajectory by securing and actively managing vast tracts of wild land that have been overlooked in recent years, due to the ever-widening environmental funding gap across Africa and beyond. Through targeted conservation investments, and by uniting a coalition of impact-driven shareholders, we aim to unlock the full potential of these landscapes, creating sustainable revenue streams that can make a substantial difference in preserving Tanzania's natural heritage.
Natural Capital has developed a robust business case for this investment opportunity, underpinned by comprehensive financial modelling. The project is projected to yield a positive NPV and a strong impact-related IRR. The blended finance model will support effective conservation management, restore degraded habitats, and generate jobs and income for local communities, thereby creating a robust and enduring mechanism to preserve these invaluable wilderness areas.
Natural Capital's investment initiative in Tanzania offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on global biodiversity conservation. Together with like-minded shareholders, passionate partners and key local stakeholders, we strive to help secure a bright future for Tanzania's protected areas, ensuring they remain havens for wildlife and continue to provide essential ecosystem services for generations to come.
