STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
FOR AN AFRICAN ELEPHANT
ACTION PLAN
An Overview
Timeline
CITES CoP14, 2007, The Hague, Netherlands
Decisions 14.75, 14.76, 17.78 and 14.79 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.
2.
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4.
An initiative of the Parties to CITES
The result of a collaborative development process
Owned by the African elephant range States
An overarching framework which:
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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.
2.
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4.
5.
An Action Plan
A set of measurable targets
An exhaustive list of activities
A prioritised or budgeted list of activities
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