James Kahurananga

James Kahurananga, PhD, Program Director, Tanzania, African Wildlife Foundation.

"Dr. James Kahurananga has been working in conservation for nearly 40 years in East Africa. James is AWF’s senior representative in Tanzania. As such, James not only directs the team in the Maasai Steppe Heartland, but he also oversees AWF’s program for large landscape conservation in Tanzania.

"James’ long-standing commitment to conservation in the region has allowed him to form important relationships with government officials, Tanzania National Parks and other agencies, allowing AWF’s projects to be implements more quickly and smoothly.

James successfully implemented the $8 million USAID-funded PORI Project. The PORI Project created a landscape level vision for the Maasai Steppe ecosystem, instituted major infrastructure and management support to two national parks, identified and protected key corridors and set up a private Land Conservation Trust to manage the Manyara Ranch as an integral part of this conservation and tourism landscape.

"His relationship with AWF goes back to 1968, when the then African Wildlife Leadership Foundation (AWLF) funded James to pursue a B.Sc. in Wildlife Management at Colorado State University (USA). Some may call him Mzee, or elder. But he has the enthusiasm and energy of someone a third his age."