First Steps to Securing International Unity for Elephant Conservation
Following the recommendations of its Elephant Task Force Report and declaration of the elephant as a national heritage animal, India yesterday began fulfilling its pledge to take an international lead on elephant conservation, by hosting the inaugural meeting of the “Elephant-8 group” – the eight countries with the world’s largest number of elephants. Funded by the Ministry of Environment and Forest and organised by Elephant Family’s partner organisation, the Wildlife Trust of India, environment ministers or officials from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand – representing Asia – and Botswana, Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania – representing Africa – met in New Delhi “to take forward the common goal of elephant conservation and management in all range countries”. The meeting culminated in the “New Delhi E-8 Recommendation”, with the eight countries taking the lead “to embark upon collaborative efforts on elephant conservation”.
Opening the meeting, Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh (pictured above) stressed that "from poaching for their ivory to habitat loss, every issue to conserve the elephant needs to be addressed”. He went on to point out that in India, unlike the tiger, which faces the threat of extinction, the elephant faces threats of attrition: elephant numbers have not increased or decreased drastically, but there is increasing pressure on their habitat. This is a serious concern that will be addressed by involving people in elephant conservation and welfare. With this he launched a nationwide Haathi Mere Saathi (“Elephants My Friends”) campaign, complete with campaign mascot and logo. This will increase awareness among people and improve their co-existence with elephants, and is to be carried out in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India with support from Elephant Family.
Following an overview of elephant conservation and national presentations from the countries represented, separate discussions explored “Science and Conservation”, “Management and Conservation”, and “Cultural and Ethical perspectives of conservation”. The outcomes of these discussions were presented and then the E-8 resolutions were adopted.
As a first output from this process, the “New Delhi E-8 Recommendation”, has broad and uncontentious aims, “to actively pursue a common agenda to ensure long-term welfare and survival of all species of elephants in all range countries, and to realise this global goal”. This is therefore a positive first step, following which more specific actions can be determined. As such the E-8 countries also resolved that the First International Congress of the “Elephant-50:50 Forum” will be held in early 2013, also in New Delhi, as originally conceived in the Elephant Task Force Report.
Next year’s International Congress is expected to bring about a shared vision of 50 States to promote conservation, management and welfare of elephants over the next 50 years. This will take into account the existing African Elephant Action Plan and the need for something similar for Asian elephants, for which Elephant Family’s Survival Charter is proposed as a first working draft for an agreement, to which national plans would then be attached. Elephant Family therefore welcomes the progress made yesterday, as if a legally-binding agreement on elephant conservation could be secured, a powerful tool will have been created for coordinating collaborative strategies for elephant conservation and for taking governments to task for their implementation.
written by Dan Bucknell on 25th May 11
