The African Elephant Conservation Fund (AECF), managed by our Global Affairs Program, is committed to investing in African elephant population hubs and partner efforts to improve conservation governance systems. A recent study published in Conservation Letters by Roberto Correa and colleagues found that stabilizing savannah and forest elephant populations requires funding and effective governance (the rules, policies, and will that guide how conservation projects are managed). (meaning the decision-making process) turned out to be key. All over Africa. The study reveals that effective conservation of African elephants requires $1.5 billion per year, but even limited investments can help protect African elephants, especially in regions characterized by strong governance systems. Results show that the decline can be slowed down.
This study, funded in part by a grant through AECF, is the first to examine the return on investment in elephant conservation in 80 protected areas across Africa. In addition to highlighting the need to adequately increase resources for protected areas, it also emphasizes the role of governance. This highlights the need for systematic support to improve existing financial investments and governance systems to ensure their conservation effectiveness. Through the AECF, we work with both government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the African elephant range to build country capacity and implement the necessary systems of good governance at local and national scales. We have provided long-term support.
Our conservation work in the Luangwa-Zambezi Valley, home to Zambia’s largest and most stable elephant population of approximately 20,000 individuals, is a great example of our investment. A poaching crisis from 1960 to the late 1980s decimated more than 90 percent of Zambia’s elephant population. Since then, significant and sustained investment in elephant conservation efforts, community engagement and tourism development has been implemented through a strong collaborative partnership between the NGO operators of the reserve and the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). , which led to an increase in elephant conservation efforts. population. Since 2003, we have invested more than $6 million in financial and technical support to support these efforts. This includes providing core support for protected area management, leadership development and support to national institutions.
This research has been published as an open access article: Correa, RJ, Lindsey, PA, Critchlow, R., Beale, CM, Geldmann, J., and Plumptre, AJ (2024). The performance of protected areas in conserving African elephants. Conservation letter, e13041. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13041
