Cms Convention on Migratory Species
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CMS CONVENTION ON Distribution: General MIGRATORY UNEP/CMS/Inf.10.27 27 October 2011 SPECIES Original: English TENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES Bergen, 20-25 November 2011 Agenda Item 16 ANALYSING GAPS AND OPTIONS FOR ENHANCING ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN CENTRAL AFRICA (Prepared jointly by The Environment and Development Group and The Migratory Wildlife Network) 1. Attached to this note is the Report: Analysing Gaps and Options for Enhancing Elephant Conservation in Central Africa, prepared by The Environment and Development Group, and The Migratory Wildlife Network, for CMS. An executive summary is also provided as document UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.46. 2. The analysis was commissioned, after a tender process, in response to Recommendation 9.5 in which the Secretariat was requested to “include in its programme of work the development of an appropriate instrument on the conservation of elephants in Central Africa and to engage in relevant consultations with range states”. 3. Given the number of existing instruments, programmes and projects to conserve African elephants, it was felt that a survey and gap analysis should be undertaken prior to considering the development of a CMS instrument, to establish whether such an instrument would be the most effective intervention. 4. The analysis examines the situation of African elephants in Central Africa, actions attempted for reducing threats to elephants and their effectiveness, CMS involvement in the region, and options for determining the role of CMS in Central African elephant conservation. For reasons of economy, documents are printed in a limited number, and will not be distributed at the meeting. Delegates are kindly requested to bring their copy to the meeting and not to request additional copies. Analysing gaps and options for enhancing elephant conservation in Central Africa Final report for the Secretariat of the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals October 2011 This document has been prepared for the The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Bonn, Germany by Dr Keith Lindsay, Chloé Joyeux, Dr Margi Prideaux and Dr Stephen Cobb. About The Environment and Development Group EDG is an international consulting company working in the field of policy-relevant research and consultancy. From its base in Oxford, UK, EDG provides advisory and project management services in relation to rural development, the natural environment, and the people who depend on it for their livelihoods About the Migratory Wildlife Network The Migratory Wildlife Network is a collaborative civil society partnership to coordinate and progress migratory wildlife conservation through international processes. The Network supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs), wildlife scientists and wildlife policy experts from around the world, to coordinate and progress migratory wildlife conservation, with specific attention to progressing policy and conservation through the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Citation Lindsay, K., Joyeux, C., Prideaux, M. and Cobb, S. (2011). Analysing gaps and options for enhancing elephant conservation in Central Africa . 10 th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS, Bergen, 20-25 November 2011, UNEP/CMS/Inf.10.27, The Environment and Development Group, Oxford, UK. © Copyright: 2011, Lindsay, K., Joyeux, C., Prideaux, M. and Cobb, S. Analyzing Gaps and Options for Enhancing Elephant Conservation in Central Africa Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................. i List of figures and tables .................................................................................................................................................. ii Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................... iii Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................................. v 1. Introduction and purpose of the review ............................................................................................................. 12 2. Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Description of the methodology ................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Literature and knowledge review ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Stakeholder consultation ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.1.3 Review and analysis of the collected information .............................................................................. 13 2.2 The region defined ......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Limitations of the methodology ................................................................................................................... 14 3. Situation of African elephants in Central Africa .............................................................................................. 15 3.1 International elephant status ........................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 Numbers and trends ...................................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Factors determining elephant numbers ....................................................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Direct factors ............................................................................................................................................ 19 3.3.2 Indirect factors ......................................................................................................................................... 21 4. Mechanisms and activities for conservation of elephants in Central Africa ................................................ 23 4.1 National and regional activities .................................................................................................................... 23 4.2 International instruments and programmes ............................................................................................... 27 4.3 Research, monitoring and information flow ............................................................................................... 32 4.4 Coverage and gaps in elephant conservation in Central Africa ............................................................... 33 5. CMS involvement in the region and implications of CMS Recommendations and Resolution(s) ......... 34 5.1 History of CMS deliberations on African elephants .................................................................................. 34 5.2 The intent of CMS and CITES to collaborate on Central African elephants ........................................... 35 5.3 Recent CMS deliberations on agreement development ............................................................................ 36 5.4 Other CMS regional activities ....................................................................................................................... 37 6. Options for determining CMS’s role in Central African elephant conservation ........................................ 40 6.1 Situation summary ......................................................................................................................................... 40 6.2 Options for CMS to consider......................................................................................................................... 41 6.2.1 Option 1: an Agreement for the Coordination of Central African Elephant Habitat and Corridor Protection .................................................................................................................................................................. 42 6.2.2 Option 2: Providing capacity support for increasing African Elephant habitat protection ........... 45 6.2.3 Option 3: Facilitated consultation with Central African CMS Parties .............................................. 46 7. Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................... 49 7.1 Overarching recommendations .................................................................................................................... 49 7.2 Option recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 49 Annex A. Bibliography and list of documents consulted ................................................................................... 51 Annex B. List of stakeholders contacted ................................................................................................................ 56 Annex C. CMS Secretariat accompanying letter and questionnaire (English version) ................................