ELEPHANTS
& PEOPLE
We treasure our elephants, not only because they are remarkable creatures, but also because they are a keystone species that protect our environment and can help our people achieve a prosperous and stable future.
HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT
African governments are well aware that people living alongside elephants sometimes pay a cost. Elephants destroy crops, damage infrastructure and even kill people. As human populations grow and habitats shrink, Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) is increasing. In important elephant range states like Botswana, Gabon, Kenya and Uganda, newspapers report on conflicts between elephants and humans on a weekly basis. Governments and conservationists are experimenting with various solutions, including electric fences, bee-hives and ditches. Our NEAPs are designed to attract donor funding that will mitigate these conflicts, and ensure a better future… for people and elephants.
Human population growth is a reality that conservationists must reckon with. Africa’s human population is expected to nearly double by the year 2050, from 1.2 billion people today to an estimated 2.4 billion people in 35 years. More people will mean increased pressures on land and resources. There will be less space available for all species and not just elephants. Conservationists must think clearly about this challenge and discuss openly how to manage elephants in human dominated landscapes.
Dr. Winnie Kiiru, Senior Technical Advisor for the EPI Foundation
SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE ECONOMIES
A recent study commissioned by the EPI Foundation is the first of its kind to assess the potential for promoting market-based conservation solutions across four countries, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report uses innovative research to quantify the impact of elephant protection and conservation on local, national and the global economies. The findings presented here have profound implications for the future of conservation financing and the building of sustainable wildlife economies.
Protected wildlife areas can drive long-term economic growth, revenues
and jobs.
The EPI Foundation believes there is great untapped investment potential in conservation. We want to seize new opportunities to mobilise finance for conservation, and thereby help our member countries to build wildlife-based economies. These can benefit both people and the natural environment.