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October 15, 2018
By George Mangula
African leaders called on international donors to commit One Billion dollars over the next 12 years to save Africa’s remaining elephants.
During the Elephant Protection Initiative’s (EPI) Consultative Group at the Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Conference, the group urged “donors to put elephants beyond the risk of extinction” by helping provide the required investment.
Africa’s elephant population has been devastated by ivory poachers over the past decade. On average, some 55 elephants are killed per day. At this rate, elephants could be wiped out within a generation.
The EPI held crucial meetings on the elephant crisis at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London.
The EPI’s first ever Consultative Group was hosted by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba. Seven African countries – Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Angola and Chad – presented their elephant conservation plans. These plans would cost some 268 million USD to implement over the next three years.
Their National Elephant Action Plans are fully costed national plans drawn up by African governments to protect their elephant populations. The EPI champions and advocates for these plans across Africa as a sustainable and effective way to save the continent’s dwindling elephant population, which continues to come under fierce attack from poaching and illegal trafficking.
The EPI’s John Stephenson said: “In response to the challenge laid down by the international community at the first Conference for Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2014, Africa has set out an ambitious programme of elephant conservation.
“If we invest one billion dollars by 2030 we can put elephants beyond the risk of extinction, protect habitats, and the communities who live alongside wildlife. When this money is spread across elephant range states, the amount we spend in each country will be modest, but the returns will be large.”
President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, said: “The EPI states have invested their own blood and treasure to protect elephants from poachers. African communities are losing their crops and are being killed by these magnificent but dangerous beasts. Hungry villagers bear the brunt of the elephant’s appetite, whilst countries who have eliminated the indigenous animal’s threats to their people demand conservation action.”
Despite the challenges, he said the EPI member states are determined to halt the elephant slaughter and to fight the wider threats to African bio-diversity. “But we are fighting the battle on behalf of all mankind. Is the rest of the world prepared to help us? If the international community is unable or unwilling to identify the finances required to implement these [National Elephant Action] plans, despite our countries’ national budget contributions, which total tens of millions of dollars, then NEAPs are just pieces of paper,” he said.
Former President of Botswana, and a founding member of the EPI, Dr Ian Khama said: “Nature is the most important asset for the planet, and elephants are part of that asset. And, as we all know, assets need investment. We maintain our infrastructure, we repair our roads, buildings, seaports and airports, but are not investing in our natural capital in the same manner.
He urged Africans to appreciate the value of nature, and act collectively to conserve the African elephant. “We urgently need to join hands and generate sufficient funding for the implementation of National Elephant Action Plans (NEAPs) in EPI member states,” he said.
Duke of Cambridge, Prince William said: “I am delighted to be here at your first meeting. Ever since the EPI was created four years ago, I have continued to believe it offers the best African owned approach to protecting African elephants.”
He said: “Domestic ivory markets are closing, the international ivory trade has plummeted and government stockpiles are being put beyond commercial use.”
Launched in 2014 by the leaders of 5 countries – Gabon, Chad, Tanzania, Botswana and Ethiopia – the EPI coalition now numbers 19 African member states.
