Poaching and the problem with conservation in Africa - commentary

By Richard Fynn and Oluwatoyin Kolawole  (Okavango Research Institute)

 Poaching is a complex topic that cannot be solved by myopic, top-down enforcement approaches. Crime syndicates may be fuelling the poaching of elephant and rhino but they are not the source of the problem. Rather than treat the symptoms by spending millions on weapons and anti-poaching forces, which experience has repeatedly shown does not stop poaching, there is a need to understand the underlying causes of the poaching problem if it is to be solved.  

Across Africa, state-led anti-poaching forces, no matter how well funded and equipped, have been unable to curtail the high levels of poaching currently observed. 

Devolving power and benefits to local communities will enable local communities to acquire full responsibility for anti-poaching operations, which they are much better positioned to do than external agencies who do not have the social networks and local knowledge needed to effectively perform oversight functions in the local area. As witnessed in the Luangwa Valley and Namibian conservancies, there is every likelihood that there will be a significant decline in poaching once community conservation is properly implemented.

Read more:  https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/poaching-and-the-problem-with-conservation-in-africa-commentary/

'Elephants massacre must stop'

Urgent action is required to stop the massacre of elephants and the deprivation of rural communities of the opportunity to benefit from their natural resources. 

Speaking at the African elephant meeting in Kasane on March 23, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) Mr Elias Mokgosi noted that large scale seizures had become common in recent years, suggesting involvement of sophisticated criminal syndicates. “These syndicates take advantage of conflicts and social unrest, poor governance and corruption in some elephant range states to obtain and transport ivory to their destinations,” he said. 

He noted that tens of thousands of elephants had been killed over the last five years, with 2011 recording the largest number in recent times, adding that the current killing was threatening the existence of African elephants. In Botswana, Mr Mokgosi said while poaching had not yet become a serious threat to the elephant population, there had been encounters between security forces and armed poachers from neighbouring countries.  This, he said, highlighted the needs for cooperation between different countries to counter this threat. “Botswana, Chad, Gabon, Ethiopia and Tanzania have also agreed to the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), which is intended to build upon other initiatives to address the poaching and illegal trade in ivory and not compete against them,” he said. 

Presenting on illegal trade in ivory, Dr Tom Milliken of Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) noted that prices of ivory per kilogram have increased, thus their value has increased.  “The year 2011 recorded the highest cases of illegal ivory trade with a slight decrease in 2012,” Dr Tom Milliken noted. 

He highlighted that there was improvement in seizures by African countries before ivory left Africa for mostly Asian markets.  “We have, however ,noted a decrease in seizures in China, which leads one to wonder if there is less ivory going into China or weak law enforcement,” he said. 

Read More: http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=18873

Farmers hit out at hunting ban

Two of the eight-point resolutions agreed between Ngamiland farmers and the government in August 2012 appear to be proving difficult to fulfill.These relate to special quota for elephants encroaching in farming areas and the establishment of a disease control fund.Under the elephant resolution, it was agreed at the time that elephants will be removed from settled areas and cull through safari hunting quotas the elephants continue to be problem animals.  However, with the current blanket banning of hunting on state land in the country, instituted by President Ian Khama with effect from January 1 this year, that option looks unfeasible.

At the recent stakeholders meeting, the farmers did not take kindly to government’s arbitrary decision to ban hunting without considering the resolution that was agreed upon with them.  They argued that elephants are a real factor in the fight to control the spread of FMD since they destroy buffalo fences and other infrastructure. Another resolution that has proved tricky to navigate relates to the stablishment of the disease control fund.Under this resolution, it was envisaged that funds could be drawn from diverse sources that included the Conservation Trust Fund, Tourism Levy, Matimela Auction Sales, the cattle levy and farmer contribution.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Marcus Chimbombi acknowledged as much that the inclusion of other funds in the resolution was inappropriate in the first place “as these are controlled by other ministry-specific Acts.  It is not possible to get financial assistance from these funds as there are answerable to specific legislations.”Faced with this dilemma, the ministry “has now decided to do away with all other levies and stick with the Cattle Levy,” said Chimbombi adding that this might end up having to be legislated for at Parliament.

Chimbombi also disclosed that regarding conservation trust funds, the DVS has submitted a proposal to the Elephant Fund and is awaiting response from them.