Agnes Anthony Sirima

Name: Agnes A. Sirima (PhD)

Position: Associate Professor

Address: P.O.BOX 3167

Phone: +255 765 668 388

Email: agnes@sua.ac.tz or agnessirima@gmail.com

Research Profiles: Google scholar  && Research gate

Agnes Sirima is a native Tanzanian. She received her Bachelor degree in Wildlife Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. After graduating she worked for a Norwegian based company on a project implementing afforestation programme in rural areas of southern highlands of Tanzania. Agnes has also worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in the anti-poaching unit that is entrusted with safe-guarding wildlife resources in Tanzania. She served as the assistant zonal commander, in the southern zone anti-poaching unit.

From 2008 to 2010, Agnes studied for a Master’s Degree in Leisure, Tourism and Environment at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. In her MSc thesis, she carried out a study on relationship between communities and resource conservation. She believes that for the world to win the conservation war, understanding the human dimension is critical. During her Masters studies Agnes also worked with New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZRTI) on a project aimed at delivering innovative and timely solutions to the New Zealand tourism industry and those who depend on it. She earned her Doctorate degree from Clemson University in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a specialization in parks and conservation area management. Her PhD research focused on unveiling the contribution of indigenous ecological knowledge in the conservation of a community-based forests in Tanzania.

Currently, Dr. Sirima is the Acting Principal in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism and associate Professor in the Department of Tourism and Recreation, at Sokoine University of Agriculture. She has also served as Head of the Department of Tourism and Recreation between 2016 and 2022; and, Coordinator for research and consultancy activities at the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism between 2016 and 2020.

Over the years, Dr. Sirima has conducted research and consultancy activities that integrate humans, parks and protected areas with special attention on analyzing significance and complexity of parks and other protected areas not only as conserved areas but also their contribution to tourism growth and community development. This has not only enabled her to identify problems behind tourism, but also to contribute effective and sustainable solutions in tourism and conservation fields.

Her research interests also include a key focus on communities, their capacity in managing natural resources, natural resource conflicts, recreation opportunities in urban, rural and protected settings as well as investigating integrated approaches to conservation and GIS application to parks and protected area management.

During her academic career, Agnes has received several awards including, graduate student of excellence from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University, graduate students of excellence from the College of Health, Education and Human Development from Clemson University, best first and third year student in wildlife management from the Wildlife Division-Tanzania, and a certificate of outstanding performance in Science (2005/2006) from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania.

• Kingazi, N., Temu, RPC., Sirima, A., and Jonsson, M. (2023). Woody plants supporting insect pollinators in Chagga home Gardens, Northern Tanzania. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences. 23(1): 175-188.

• Sirima, A (2023). Strawberry picking as an agritourism activity at Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. Open Journal of Social Science. Vol. 11, ISSN Online:2327-5960.

• Sirima, A (2023). Challenges Facing Ruaha National Park Conservation and Management: A Review Paper. International Journal of Science and Research. Vol. 12 (6).

• Mwongoso, A., Sirima, A. and Mgonja J. (2023). Impacts of Tourism Destination Development on Residents’ Livelihoods in Northern Tanzania. East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences. Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 152-162.

• Mwongoso, A., Sirima, A. and Mgonja J. (2023). Impacts of Tourism Development on Residents’ Quality of Life: Efficacy of Community Capitals in Gateway Communities, Northern Tanzania. Applied Research in Quality-of-Life https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-023-10196-7.

• Mwongoso, A., Sirima, A. and Mgonja J. (2023). Impacts of Development of Tourism Destinations on Tourist Perceptions of Destinations’ Attributes and Satisfaction in Gateway Communities, Northern Tanzania. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure. 12(1):75-97.

• Sirima, A (2022). Barriers to community participation in community-based tourism. The Eastern Africa Journal of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism.

• Sirima, A. (2022). Local institutions and forest management: a case of Enguserosambu Community Forest, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Vol. 91 (1): 120-131.

• Mnzava, E.E and Sirima, A.A. (2022). A bibliometric analysis of research productivity on human-wildlife conflicts in East Africa. International Journal of Conservation Science.

• Mwongoso, A., Sirima, A. and Mgonja J. (2021). Development of Tourism Destinations in Gateway Communities, Northern Tanzania. Journal of Tourism Quarterly. 3(4), 177-195.

• Peter M. Ezra, Bernard M. Kitheka, Edwin Sabuhoro, Geoffrey K. Riungu, Agnes Sirima, Annah K. Amani (2021). Responses and Impacts of COVID-19 on East Africa’s Tourism Industry. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure. 10 (6), 1711-1727.

• Sirima, A and Elizabeth Baldwin (2021). Forest Conservation through cultural practices: the case of Enguserosambu Community Forest in Tanzania. Policy Matters Vol II.

• Sirima, A. Kashaigili J.J. and Kamau F. (2021). The Effect of Agricultural Intensification on Ecosystem Services around Ihemi Cluster. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation. 90 (1): 30-40.

• Jamaliah Malek, Powell, R and Sirima, A. (2020). Climate change adaptation and implementation barriers: a qualitative exploration of managers of Dana Biosphere Reserve. Journal of Ecotourism. DOI10.1080/14724049.2020.1746320.

• Sirima, A and Mngulwi, M (2020). Community readiness to green tourism initiatives in less developed parks: lessons from communities around Saadani National Park In Waalia, K. S. (Ed) Community Based Tourism Management: Concepts, Issues & Implications (ROUTLEDGE- Taylor & Francis Group).

• Kitheka, B and Sirima, A. (2019). Tourism Governance and Organizational Infrastructure in the East African Community. In Mkono, M (Ed). Positive Tourism in Africa.

• Seaman, Alana N., Farmer, James R, Chancellor, Charles H., Sirima, A, (2018). “Conserving Nostalgia: Exploring Private Land Protection Patterns” Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. 8(30): 1-11.

• Jodice, J. W., Ramshaw, G., Sirima, A. and Goris, L. (2018) Coastal Gastronomy: Envisioning a South Carolina Seafood Trail. Journal of Gastronomy and Tourism. 3(1): 1-16.

• Sirima, A. (2017) Nature Reserves. In: Lowry, L. L. (Ed.). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Travel and Tourism (p. 874-876). SAGE Publishing, Thousand Oaks ISBN: 9781483368948.

• Mgonja, J. T., Sirima, A., & Mkumbo, P.J. (2017). A review of ecotourism in Tanzania: magnitude, challenges, and prospects for sustainability. Ecotourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Thirty Years of practice” (p.170-184). Routledge/Taylor Francis Group, London.

• Abdallah, J. M., Juma, S. R and Sirima, A. A. (2017). Background of Forestry and Climate Chage. In J. M. Abdallah, J.Z. Katani, S. N. Augustino, and D. A. Woiso (Ed.). Forestry and Climate Change: Practices for the technical level foresters (P. Xx – XX). Mkuki na Nyota Publishers: Dar es Salaam.

• Kadigi, R. M. J., Kashaigili, J. J., Sirima, A., Kamau, F., Sikira, A., & Mbungu, W. (2017). Land fragmentation, agricultural productivity and implications for agricultural investments in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) region, Tanzania. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 9(2), 26-36.

• Sirima, A. (2016). The Social and Economic Impacts of Ruaha National Park Expansion. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 4, 1-11.

• Sirima, A., Kadigi, R.M.J., Kashaigili, J.J., Kamau, F., Sikira, A., Mbungu, W., Placid, J.K. (2016).Ecosystem health and sustainable agricultural development in Ihemi cluster. Colombo: Sri Lanka.CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).4p.

• Sikira, A., Sirima, A., Kadigi, R.M.J., Kashaigili, J.J., Kamau, F., Mbungu, W., Placid, J.K. (2016).Gendered decision making in natural resources (Land and Water) for effective planning in the Southern agricultural growth corridor of Tanzania.Colombo:Sri Lanka.CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).4p.

• Kashaigili, J.J, Kadigi R.M.J., Mbungu, W.B., Sikira, A., Sirima, A., Placid, J.K., Mbwambo, E. and Minde, A. (2016) Laying the Foundations for Effective Landscape-Level Planning for Sustainable Development in the SAGCOT Corridor: Ihemi Agricultural Development Cluster (LiFELand). Report Submitted to TNC, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, 153 p.

• Mgonja, J. T, Sirima, A. Backman, K, and Backman, S (2015). Cultural community based tourism in Tanzania: Lessons learned and way forward. Development Southern Africa. 32 (3), 377-391.

• Mgonja, J. T. & Sirima, A. (2015). What makes the ‘community’ in CBT? Reflecting on a CBT experience from Tanzania. In Novelli, M. Tourism and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Current Issues and Local Realities (p. 73). Routledge, NY, USA.

• Sirima, A and Mgonja, J. T. (2015). Tanzania Tourism. In J. Jafari & H. Xiao (eds.), Encyclopedia of Tourism, Springer, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_1-1.

• Jodice, L. W., Sirima, A. and Ramshaw, G (June, 2015). Examining capacity for a cooperative seafood tourism trail as a value-added marine resource-based recreation and tourism product on the South Carolina Coast. A Report submitted to South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium.

• Sirima, A & Backman, K. F. (2013) Communities’ displacement from national park and tourism development in the Usangu Plains, Tanzania. Current Issues in Tourism, 16(7-8), 719-735.

• Muganda M., Sirima, A., and Marwa E. (2013). The Role of Local Communities in Tourism Development: A Grassroots Perspective from Tanzania. Journal of Human ecology, 41 (1), 53-66.

• Sirima, A. (2012) A Review of “Tourism and sustainability: development, globalisation and new tourism in the Third World (3rd ed.)”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, DOI:10.1080/09669582.2012.707373.

• Muganda M., Sirima, A., Mkumbo, P., and Moshy, B. (2012) Sharing Tourism Benefits with the Local Community: A Business Perspective from the Grassroots in Tanzania. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management. 5 (3), 239-251.

• Sirima, A. and Ladislaus, M (2012). Unlocking the Opportunities for Displaced Communities: Can Tourism Offset the Conservation Costs? Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism 1 (1), 65-84.

• Musamba, B. E, Ngaga, Y. M, Boon, E. K, Giliba, R. A, Sirima, A and Chirenje, L. I. (2011). The economics of Water in Paddy and Non-Paddy Crop Production around the Kilombero Valley Ramsar Site, Tanzania: Productivity, Costs, Returns and Implication to Poverty Reduction. Journal of Agriculture Science, 2(1), 17-27.

• Kashaigili, J. J., Nzunda, E. F., Mwamakimbullah, R., Sirima, A., Shirima, D., and Mkumbo, P. J. (October, 2011). Spatial Planning Baseline Focusing on the Coastal Forest of Tanzania for the Coastal Forest Project. Submitted To WWF-TCO.

• Jodice, L., Hull, J., and Sirima, A. (2010). Marine Farming and Tourism Aquaculture New Zealand 2 (2), 4-7.

• Hull, J., Jodice, L, Sassenberg, U. & Sirima, A.(September, 2009) Exploring the role of innovation in promoting sustainable tourism development in peripheral communities: The Top of the South Aquaculture and Seafood Trail, New Zealand. Submitted to the Top of the South Seafood Project Steering Committee.

• Sirima, A. & Warui, M. (2006). Feeding Ecology of Souimanga Sunbird (Nectarinia Souimanga) at Kirindy Forest, Madagascar. Report submitted to Tropical Biology Association, Nairobi-Kenya.

Mwongoso, Alpha – Development of Tourism Destinations and Its Impacts On Residents’ Livelihoods Towards Quality of Life In Gateway Communities of Northern Tanzania– SUA: PhD.

Kahangwa, Prisca – Attitude of tourists towards wildlife-based tourism in Tanzania. A case study of the northern circuit – SUA: MSc.

Denis Syldion Katabalo – Assessment of social, cultural and economic impacts of tourism festivals and events to the host communities of Arusha municipality – University of Iringa: MSc.

Mbugi, Ally – The Role of Participatory Management of Heritage Resources in the Development of Tourism Destination in Tanzania – University of Iringa: MSc.

Masera, Ghaka – Understanding the Resilience of Northern Tanzania Tour Operators Against Pandemics SUA: PhD.

Nanyika Kingazi – The Influence Of Agroforestry Systems On Insect Pollinator Communities In Tanzania. SUA: PhD.

Oliver Simeon Lihuluku – The Effects of Ecotourism on Ecosystems Restoration and Communities’ Livelihood in Coastal Areas of Tanzania. SUA: MSc.

Nelson Makundi – Impacts Of Population Growth On Land Use And/Land Cover Changes In Dodoma City, Tanzania. SUA: MSc.

Christopher Macfarlane – A Critical Discourse Analysis of Land Tenure, Pastoralism, and Protected Areas in Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. University of Montana: MSc.

UNDERGRADUATE

Prof. Sirima has supervised over 50 undergraduate students research projects in the areas of tourism, leisure, recreation and wildlife management.

Consultant (Tourism Expert): Feasibility study for Mangrove project in Tanzania. AFD ( Agence Française de Developpement), October 2023.

Researcher – The Influence of Cultural Heritage and Creative Industries on Tourism and Coastal Economy, April 2023.

Consultant – Tourism Carrying Capacity of Zanzibar, June 2023.

Researcher – Cultural Tourism Development for Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts and Effects Resulted from COVID 19 for the Communities Adjacent to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park – Kilombero, EAMCEF,  June 2021 – December 2022.

Researcher – Institutional Canopy of Conservation (I-CAN) project, 2014-2021.

Socio-economist – Environmental Flow Assessment of RUVU Catchment River, Dry Season Analysis, Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board, March 2018.

Lead Consultant- Baseline study: Inventory of the network of conservation organizations, African Conservation Centre, December 2017 – April 2020.

Socio-economist – Environmental Flow Assessment of Zigi Catchment River, Dry Season Analysis, Pangani Basin Water Board, March 2018 – 2020.

Consultant – Terminal Evaluation of TFS Strategic Planning II, September- November 2019.

Wildlife Expert – Biological Resource Field Survey for an environmental assessment of the proposed Kisegese Irrigation Scheme, CDM Smith, August 2017 – March 2018.

Researcher – Establish linkage between ECOPRC and other REDD+ initiatives at national level, March 2018.

Lead Consultant – WMA Viability Analysis, USAID PROTECT – Tanzania, June 2017 – July 2018.

Socio-economist – Environmental Flow Assessment of Zigi Catchment River – Wet Season Analysis, Pangani Basin Water Board, March – June 2017.

Principal Investigator – Assessing Enguserosambu community forest dependence and motivation for forest protection, 2015/2016.

Researcher – Laying the Foundations for Effective Landscape-level Planning for Sustainable Development in the SAGCOT Corridor: Ihemi Agricultural Cluster (LiFELand), 2015/2016.

Researcher – Assessing Community Biodiversity Awareness around Wazo Hill Quarry, March – Dec 2016.

Consultant –Community Based Tourism Training to selected six villages surrounding Saadani National Park. Funded by IUCN/Kesho Trust, May 2016.

Principal Investigator – Does Traditional Ecological Knowledge Contribute to Conservation of the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem? Funded by Rufford Foundation, 2014/2015.

Research assistant – Examining capacity for a cooperative seafood tourism trail as a value-added marine resource-based recreation and tourism product on the South Carolina coast, August 2012 – April 2015.

Project member – Corridor identification/ spatial planning in selected WWF target landscapes, Tanzania. Funded by WWF, May – October, 2011.

Research assistant, exploring the role of innovation in promoting sustainable tourism development in peripheral communities: The Top of the South Aquaculture and Seafood Trail, New Zealand, July – October, 2009.