EPI NEWSLETTER

In this month's edition we take an in-depth look at the COVID-19 pandemic. We also celebrate work being carried out in Ethiopia on improving their Ivory storage facilities and welcome a new Friend of the Month - Barre Koivogui, from the Republic of Guinea

In this month's edition we look back on the life of Tim the Tusker. We also welcome two new partners to the EPI and our friend of the month, Lynn Clifford, who we talk to about her conservation work in Malawi. 

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The end of the year is traditionally a time for reflecting on the events of the past twelve months, and looking forward to future opportunities. This is as true for us at the EPI Foundation as it is elsewhere.

Is the UK Ivory Act under threat? John Scanlon’s thoughts on the disagreements at CITES. We hope you enjoy, please do forward it on to those who might be interested.

How the elephant populations of the 19 EPI countries in Africa are incredibly diverse, in all sorts of ways, and the serious threats still facing many. With ivory management updates from Angola, and India, and a Nigerian EPI Friend of the Month.

This month we ask, ‘is the tide turning for elephants?’ There isn’t a precise answers, but a recent report helps shed some light. Updates include management of ivory stockpiles in Gabon and Uganda, and key meetings with the Cabinet Secretary of Kenya.

‘It’s all about China isn’t it?’ We look at the changing role of China in the illegal ivory trade, and take a look at history for the long view. Updates include First Lady Margaret Kenyatta joining the EPI Foundation Board, Ethiopia’s NEAP Coordination Meeting, and Nigeria’s elusive elephants.

We consider the future challenges facing Africa with ever increasing populations and Human Elephant Conflict, and updates from the EPI supported workshop on wildlife crime in Angola, Stockpile Management System training in Tanzania, and NEAP engagement in Ethiopia.

We take a look at the impact of the Coronavirus on the EPI and conservation. We also talk to our teams across Kenya, Nigeria and Chad about their latest work and welcome James Lutalo from Uganda as our friend of the month

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We address the challenges posed to CITES by some SADC countries - and welcome a new member to our leadership council.  And Kumara Wakjira of Ethiopia tells us about what inspires him in his conservation work. 

We examine what strong legal frameworks and effective enforcements efforts around the world can mean for elephants in Africa, and updates including our work in Angola to demonstrate.

This month we consider the views that divided and united discussions on elephant conservation at CITES CoP18 in Geneva. With updates from the EPI’s Member State Meeting at CoP18, meetings with the First Lady of Sierra Leone, and a scoping trip to Côte d’Ivoire.

How controversial projects in Tanzania and Uganda are severely threatening two of Africa’s great wilderness areas. News from the EPI Foundation on the appointment of a CEO, and the latest on collaboration with the Nigerian government.

With the postponement of CITES CoP18, we look beyond the ivory trade, to the future enduring issues threatening elephants survival in the wild. Updates include crucial work to collar some of the last surviving elephants in Chad, and audits of the storage of ivory in Malawi.

As we become increasingly aware of the global loss of biodiversity, we look at how elephant conservation can promote environment and species protection. Includes developments in Nigeria and an EPI workshop on securing national ivory stockpiles, highlighting the crucial role wildlife product management plays in addressing the illegal wildlife trade.