West African Elephant Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the West African Populations of the African Elephant is a Multilateral Environmental Memorandum of Understanding and was launched under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, on 22 November 2005, in close cooperation with the African Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC). The MoU covers thirteen range States, all of which have signed the MoU.
Development of MoU
Noting the important ecological role the African Elephant plays in both savannah and forest ecosystems and acknowledging that demographic pressure and the development of human activities have significantly reduced the African Elephant’s habitat endangering populations across West Africa, an Article IV agreement was concluded and came into effect on 22 November 2005, after signature by the third range State.Signatories to the West African Elephant MoU:
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Senegal
- Ghana
- CMS Secretariat
- IUCN/SSC
Aim of MoU
As the world’s largest terrestrial animal, the elephant has acted as a symbol of Africa. In recent times however, the West African populations have become extremely vulnerable, mostly as the result of illegal killing, loss of habitat and human-elephant conflicts. The MoU aims to protect the West African Elephant populations by providing an international framework for range State governments, scientists and conservation groups to collaborate in the conservation of the species and its habitat.Species covered by MoU
The MoU protects only the West African populations of the African Elephant, Loxodonta africana. At the Second Meeting of Signatories to the MoU a discussion took place whether to extend the MoU to encompass Elephant populations in Central Africa. It was however decided that it would be preferable for each sub-region to be covered by a separate MoU.Fundamental components
Realizing that actions must be taken immediately to prevent the disappearance of the remaining populations of the West African Elephant, the Signatories decide to work closely together to improve the conservation status of the species and its habitat. To this end they will, individually or collectively:- Take steps to conserve and, when and where appropriate, to strictly protect the African Elephant and to conserve and sustainably use the habitats essential for its survival
- Review and, if required, update, applicable national legislation, and ratify or accede to the most relevant international conventions addressing the African Elephant’s conservation, in order to reinforce the species’ protection, particularly with regard to domestic and international trade in ivory
- Implement in their respective countries the Strategy annexed to the MoU
- Facilitate the rapid exchange of scientific, technical and legal information necessary to coordinate conservation measures and to cooperate with recognized experts of the IUCN/SSC AfESG, other international organizations and other range States so as to facilitate their work conducted in relation to the Strategy
- Assess the implementation of the MoU and Strategy at regular meetings
- Provide the CMS Secretariat at least every two years with a report on implementation of the MoU in each of their respective countries
Meetings
Meetings of Signatories are organized on a regular basis to review the conservation status of the West African Elephant and the implementation of the MoU and Strategy. National reports by individual Signatories and a report prepared by the secretariat are also submitted.The First Meeting of Signatories took place in Accra, Ghana, 30-31 March 2009. During the meeting the following points were addressed:
- Implementation of the Strategy
- Development of scientific, technical and administrative exchanges
- Regular evaluation of the implementation of the MoU, including the regular distribution of reports on its implementation at a national level
Secretariat
The CMS Secretariat – located in Bonn, Germany – acts as the secretariat to the MoU. The secretariat organizes the regular meetings and provides overview reports compiled on the basis of information at its disposal.Strategy
The AfESG, the technical advisor to the MoU, started its work in the 1970s. WWF and AfESG developed the Strategy for the Conservation of West African Elephants in 1999. The AfESG Strategy was appended to the MoU and forms an action-oriented basis for ongoing conservation efforts. The Strategy to conserve elephants and their habitats in West Africa has three main components:- Better understand the status of elephants
- Maintain and possibly increase the numbers
- Improve elephant habitats