OEA collaborates with local communities, national and international research institutions, and wildlife authorities to develop sustainable and effective strategies for natural resource conservation and management in Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya.

 In Tanzania, rural communities depend strongly on environmental resources for their survival. In fact, most rural livelihoods are entirely nature dependent. OEA implements data-driven conservation programs to further nature-based solutions which are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and actively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN, 2016).

OEA strives to enhance local communities and decision-makers’ knowledge to identify growth strategies that balance the utilisation of natural resources with the maintenance of healthy ecosystems — or actively restoring those that have been degraded.

OEA is currently working in more than 30 villages training women as key actors of rangeland conservation, with a focus on identification and removal of invasive plants and restoration of degraded areas through preparation of seed traps and water bunds.