Central African Conservation Strategy
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Larger than elephants Inputs for an EU strategic approach to wildlife conservation in Africa A joint patrol of Gabonese and Congolese forest guards with seized ivory in a poachers’ camp on the Ivindo River, Gabon-Congo border. Photo © Victor Mbolo – WWF Afar herdsman near the Filoha springs in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. The guard post is clearly visible in the background. Photo © M. Murray A strategic approach to wildlife conservation in Africa Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION AND SPECIAL FEATURES OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ................................................................. 11 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT STUDY ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.2 AFRICA – ICONIC WILDLIFE CONTINENT .......................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 PATTERNS OF WILDLIFE DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Prioritisation approaches ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 1.4 THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTING .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.5 SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE REGIONS ............................................................................................................................. 15 1.5.1 Southern Africa ........................................................................................................................................................................ 17 1.5.2 Eastern Africa .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 1.5.3 Western Africa ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 1.5.4 Central Africa ........................................................................................................................................................................... 19 1.5.5 Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean islands ............................................................................................................... 20 1.6 THE ASIA DIMENSION .................................................................................................................................................... 20 2 CONSERVATION ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................ 20 2.1 LOSS OF SPECIES ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.2 LOSS OF ECOLOGICAL SERVICES ................................................................................................................................... 22 2.3 DIRECT THREATS ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.1 Habitat loss and fragmentation ................................................................................................................................................ 23 2.3.2 Overhunting and overfishing .................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.3 Illegal wildlife trafficking ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.4 Alien invasive species .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 2.4 DRIVERS OF THE THREATS ............................................................................................................................................ 26 2.4.1 Population growth and poverty ................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.4.2 Poor governance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.4.3 Inadequate land tenure and local resource rights ................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.4 National and regional conflict ................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.5 Political indifference and lack of awareness ............................................................................................................................ 27 2.4.6 Climate change ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 2.4.7 Endemic and emerging diseases ............................................................................................................................................. 28 2.4.8 Human-wildlife conflict ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 3 ONGOING CONSERVATION EFFORTS ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.1 INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORKS ................................................................................ 29 3.2 STRATEGIC APPROACHES ............................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2.1 Protected areas ........................................................................................................................................................................ 29 3.2.2 Devolution of wildlife management responsibility .................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 Landscape and transfrontier conservation ............................................................................................................................... 32 3.2.4 Combating illegal trafficking of wildlife. .................................................................................................................................... 33 3.3 INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERS ................................................................................................................... 33 4 LESSONS LEARNED AND PROMISING APPROACHES .............................................................................................. 34 4.1 PROTECTED AREAS ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.1.1 Protected areas have proved the test of time but require long-term support. ......................................................................... 34 4.1.2 Governance and resourcing of PA / NRM agencies ................................................................................................................ 34 4.1.3 PA design: connectivity and the landscape approach ............................................................................................................. 35 4.1.4 Transfrontier Conservation Areas ............................................................................................................................................ 35 4.1.5 Public private partnerships for the management of PAs ......................................................................................................... 36 4.1.6 Public private partnerships for wildlife management in buffer zones....................................................................................... 36 4.1.7 Smart land-use planning and development in and around protected areas ............................................................................ 37 4.1.8 Monitoring and research .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 4.2 ENGAGING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND CBNRM ...................................................................................................... 39 4.3 VALUING ECOLOGICAL SERVICES ................................................................................................................................... 40 4.4 LAW ENFORCEMENT ..................................................................................................................................................... 41 4.5 WILDLIFE MIGRATION AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................................... 43 4.6 TRADE IN WILDLIFE PRODUCTS .....................................................................................................................................