STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR AN AFRICAN ELEPHANT ACTION PLAN An Overview

Timeline CITES CoP14, 2007, The Hague, Netherlands Decisions 14.75, 14.76, and reference the development of an African Elephant Action Plan and an accompanying African Elephant Fund, directed to the African elephant range States and CITES secretariat African elephant meeting, June 2008, Mombasa Kenya IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (at the request of the CITES Secretariat) facilitated working groups to prepare a Strategic Framework for the African Elephant Action Plan July 2008 – January 2009 Draft document prepared by AfESG, circulated for comment to range States by CITES Secretariat, comments were integrated into the document, and final Strategic Framework distributed in January 2009

WHAT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK IS 1.An initiative of the Parties to CITES 2.The result of a collaborative development process 3.Owned by the African elephant range States 4.An overarching framework which:  summarises conservation status of the African elephant;  summarises current conservation challenges; and  outlines nine broad objectives to achieve the goal of managing the species and important habitats across its range.

WHAT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK IS NOT 1.An Action Plan 2.A set of measurable targets 3.An exhaustive list of activities 4.A prioritised or budgeted list of activities 5.Owned by any NGO or individual government.

CONTENT OVERVIEW 1.Introduction 2.Conservation Status of African Elephants Continental and Sub-regional Overviews International Conservation Status 3.Current Issues in African Elephant Conservation Illegal Killing, Ivory Trade, Human-Elephant Conflict, Habitat Loss and Fragmentation, Local Overabundance, Institutional Weakness 4.Objectives, Results and Activities Two Overarching Objectives Seven Primary Objectives

OBJECTIVES Cross Cutting Objectives 1.Increase awareness on elephant conservation and management across all levels 2.Build capacity in elephant conservation and management Primary Objectives 3.Improve knowledge and management of elephant populations and their habitats 4.Reduce illegal killing of elephants and illegal trade in elephant products 5.Maintain elephant habitats and restore connectivity 6.Reduce human-elephant conflict 7.Strengthen understanding and cooperation among range States 8.Assess the costs and benefits of elephants to people 9.Implement and monitor the African elephant action plan

CROSS CUTTING OBJECTIVES Objective 1 Increase awareness on elephant conservation and management across all levels Objective 2 Build capacity in elephant conservation and management

OBJECTIVE 1: Increase awareness on elephant conservation and management across all levels Result 1.1 Dissemination of unbiased and reliable information enhanced and awareness raised within and across all audiences (community, public, scientific and political)

OBJECTIVE 2: Build capacity in elephant conservation and management Result 2.1 Capacity, understanding and knowledge in African elephant conservation management activities is developed across the continent

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Objective 3 Improve knowledge and management of elephant populations and their habitats Objective 4 Reduce illegal killing of elephants and illegal trade in elephant products Objective 5 Maintain elephant habitats and restore connectivity Objective 6 Reduce human-elephant conflict Objective 7 Strengthen understanding and cooperation among range States Objective 8 Assess the costs and benefits of elephants to people Objective 9 Implement and monitor the African elephant action plan

OBJECTIVE 3: Improve knowledge and management of elephant populations and their habitats Result 3.1 The status of elephant populations (numbers, trends and distribution) across their range is established and monitored Result 3.2 Extent and rates of change in elephant habitats are monitored Result 3.3 New survey methods for forest and savanna elephant populations are developed and implemented Result 3.4 Elephant numbers increase to viable levels where possible Result 3.5 Locally overabundant populations of elephants are managed

OBJECTIVE 4: Reduce illegal killing of elephants and illegal trade in elephant products Result 4.1 The nature of illegal killing is better understood Result 4.2 The nature and dynamics of illegal trade is better understood Result 4.3 Appropriate policies and laws (legislation) at all levels (national, regional and international) are adopted or strengthened, ensuring that socio-economic compliance incentives and deterrent penalties are in place Result 4.4 Appropriate laws and the judiciary needs are enforced at all levels (national, regional and international

OBJECTIVE 5: Maintain elephant habitats and restore connectivity Result 5.1 Transboundary populations and habitats are managed in connected landscapes Result 5.2 Policies and supporting legislation to conserve existing habitats and restore landscape-level connectivity are developed and strengthened Result 5.3 Land-use planning approaches compatible with conservation are encouraged

OBJECTIVE 6: Reduce human-elephant conflict Result 6.1 Appropriate knowledge and facilitated interventions are developed Result 6.2 Conflict management strategies and policies are developed, integrated and implemented at all relevant levels

OBJECTIVE 7: Strengthen understanding and cooperation among range States Result 7.1 Common views at both technical and political levels are built and maintained

OBJECTIVE 8: Assess the costs and benefits of elephants to people Result 8.1 The impacts and potential benefits of elephants to people are assessed and, where appropriate, mechanisms to reduce negative impacts and to provide greater benefits are appropriately implemented

OBJECTIVE 9: Implement and monitor the African elephant action plan Result 9.1 Activities described in the African elephant action plan are financed and implemented, and agreed targets are monitored and reported on