Elephant Protection Initiative

Between the 17th and 21st of June 2024, the Elephant Protection Initiative and the I Instituto Nacional da Biodiversidade e Conservação/ National Institute for Biodiversity and Conservation (INBC) conducted training and mentoring for the National Parks in support of the Angola Wildlife Authority. The training was held at Kissama National Park. It provided the necessary tools and equipment that enabled Angola to strengthen the country's management of ivory and other wildlife products. The INBC, the Elephant Protection Initiative and the chair of the EPI leadership council, Sharon Ikeazor, thank the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US EMbassy (INL) for their generous support of wildlife conservation and #biodiversity in Angola. Ulysse Korogone Jose Pedro Agostinho Ruth Musgrave

Right now, fewer than 250 wild elephants are left in Nepal. A total of 21 wild elephants are said to have been killed over the past two decades in Jhapa alone. Bahundangi in Jhapa is one of Nepal’s hardest-hit settlements by human-animal conflict. In the past 10 years, wild elephants are said to have killed more than 50 people and destroyed properties worth millions of rupees. This is an extremely challenging situation for people and elephants. How to achieve harmonious coexistance? https://lnkd.in/eJ7zw8fZ https://lnkd.in/eJ7zw8fZ https://lnkd.in/eJ7zw8fZ #elephants #nepal #endwildifecrime #coexistance ADM Capital Foundation Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime Elephant Protection Initiative Ruth Musgrave Greta Francesca Iori Wildlife Trust of India IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group Alexandra Zimmermann

This piece by Shola Lawal highlights the pros and cons of how we protect elephants. Historically elephants have declined due to trophy hunting and poaching for ivory. Today, with the near-global ban on ivory trade, human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss from agriculture are the leading threats. The hunting of "super tuskers," who move between Kenya and Tanzania, jeopardizes the genetic diversity of elephants. It’s also bad for the tourists who want to see elephants in Kenya as well as the legal trophy hunters in Tanzania who want a population of elephants with large tusks. I’ve seen super tuskers in Tsavo National Park in Kenya and losing them would harm both trophy hunting and ecotourism. In the end, we need to protect these special tuskers who cross the border regularly and put in collective effort to reduce conflict with elephants (as the Elephant Protection Initiative is doing) as well as loss of habitat. https://lnkd.in/eAw7vzWd

“I love elephants; my work is all about protecting them. And that means seeing the conflict from both sides — starting with meeting people’s basic human needs and addressing issues of inequality. Then the pressure on wildlife is reduced.”   A Conservation International fellow, Greta Francesca Iori leads the Elephant Protection Initiative’s program to prevent human-elephant conflict. Her guiding philosophy is that saving Africa’s elephants requires understanding and supporting rural communities that share spaces with them — that people and wildlife can only prosper together.

Such an insightful workshop on the challenges countries face due to #HumanWildlifeConflicts globally but especially across the African continent. We were pleased to present our #HWCinsurance solution and share the building blocks we leveraged to design the solution. Read more about the workshop below: https://lnkd.in/d2yVq8T6 #insuranceforcoexistencewithnature #biodiversityconservation #sustainablefinance Elephant Protection Initiative The World Bank Global Environment Facility Lisa Farroway Hasita Bhammar Barbara Chesire Anne Kamau Betty Chebet B Zipporah Muchoki john mangaru Sharon Jelagat Morris Munene

While taking stock of the enlightening sessions during the workshop on human-elephant conflict and coexistence in May, we are happy to share The World Bank's most recent blog about the event. As the Elephant Protection Initiative enters its second decade, the EPI is increasingly focused on mitigating and managing human-elephant conflict. That's why we partnered with the Global Environment Facility to host a regional, technical workshop with 70 participants from over 20 countries in Africa to map out solutions that would foster coexistence. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d2yVq8T6 Sharon Ikeazor Ulysse Korogone Greta Francesca Iori Ruth Musgrave Clara Rincuni

Thank you Conservation International and Vanessa Bauza for highlighting my work with the Elephant Protection Initiative, it's been an honour and privilege to be able to contribute to this incredibly complex but vital issue. How we tackle biodiversity loss, human-wildlife coexistence, climate change, inequality, over-consumption - all while prioritising socio-environmentally just transitions, will very much depend on how much we are all willing to collaborate, compromise and co-create solutions within contradictions and compromise. Read my full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e7aBYRXV

A look back at the workshop to strengthen stock management mechanisms for wild fauna and flora products organized by Forgotten Parks Foundation (FPF) in partnership with Elephant Protection Initiative, from June 17 to 20, 2024 in Lubumbashi. The workshop took place under the theme: “Training on procedures for managing wildlife product storage, storage facilities and the inventory management system (SMS) in the DRC.” Attendees were representatives from the General and Provincial offices of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN, and from both Upemba and Kundelungu national parks. The workshop was part of the support project to develop standards for the management of ivory and other wildlife products in 9 African countries including the DRC. Under this project, one storage facility is already operational and two others are in the rehabilitation process, all in the Katanga region. _________ Retour en image sur l’atelier de renforcement des mécanismes de gestion des stocks des produits de la faune et flore sauvages organisé par Forgotten Parks Foundation (FPF) en partenariat avec Elephant Protection Initiative, du 17 au 20 juin 2024 à Lubumbashi. L'atelier s’est déroulé sous le thème : « Formation sur les procédures de Gestion des magasins de stockage de produits d'espèces sauvages et le système de Gestion de stocks (SMS) en RDC » et a connu la participation des représentants de la Direction Générale et la Direction provinciale de L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN, les parcs nationaux de l’Upemba et Kundelungu. Cet atelier s’inscrit dans le projet d’accompagnement pour développer les normes d’or de gestion de l’ivoire et d’autres produits de la faune sauvage dans 9 pays d’Afrique dont la RDC. Sous ce projet, un magasin est déjà opérationnel et deux autres sont en processus de réhabilitation, tous dans la région du Katanga. Video: Courtesy

The Elephant Protection Initiative CEO, John Scanlon AO, was featured on BBC Scotland discussing a significant case in Scotland. A woman was arrested and convicted for secretly selling #ivory on eBay under the guise of 'bovine bone' from 2018 to 2022, profiting thousands of pounds. John Scanlon AO emphasized the importance of the Ivory Act, celebrating its implementation, the enforcement actions taken, and the secured conviction. While the fine of £1,400 seems inadequate, the prosecution has undeniably raised awareness of this critical issue. Read the story at https://lnkd.in/dKDwxjAz #StopIvoryTrade

A Dundee woman made thousands of pounds secretly selling elephant ivory on eBay. The court was told that the accused spent years selling costume jewellery overseas contrary to the Ivory Act 2018 and had made £6,412 as a result. The Ivory Act is an important piece of legislation. It is great to see the Act being implemented, enforcement action being taken, and a conviction being secured. The publicity surrounding the prosecution has also raised awareness of the issue, but a fine of £1,400 was inadequate. Story via Graeme Ogston for BBC Scotland.  https://lnkd.in/eeTeRaNm ADM Capital Foundation Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime Wildlife Justice Commission Olivia Swaak-Goldman Ben Goldsmith Dr Gemma Harper OBE FAcSS Elephant Protection Initiative Barnaby Phillips Alexander Rhodes Greta Francesca Iori Ruth Musgrave #ivory #uk #scotland #endwildlifecrime