„Mit einer Stimme sprechen“: Staatsoberhäupter diskutieren über einheitlichen Umgang mit Elefantenpopulation

www.az.com.na/nachri...-sprechen2019-05-07/

Einheitlich die Elefantenpopulation im südlichen Afrika kontrollieren – so lautete die Vision des Kasane-Elefanten-Gipfels, zu dem gestern fünf Staatsoberhäupter der SADC-Region reisten. Auf dem Programm standen auch umstrittene Themen wie der Handel mit Elfenbein oder die Reduzierung der Elefantenzahl in Botswana.

LG
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BWgovernment
9 Std. ·
COMMUNIQUE - KASANE ELEPHANT SUMMIT

(07th May 2019) We the Heads of State for the countries comprising the Kavango –Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA – TFCA) convened at the Kasane Elephant Summit on the 07th May 2019. The Summit whose theme was “towards a common vision for management of our elephants” focused on the management of the shared KAZA elephant population.

The specific objectives of the Summit were to raise awareness on the current status of the African elephant in the southern African region; exchange of ideas on human-elephant conflict, illegal and legal trade; and reach agreement on concrete interventions to address the challenges posed.

We reflected on the status of the African elephants in the KAZA TFCA, and noted that while overall numbers have declined, it is evident from available data that countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe have large populations. Namibian and Zambian populations are increasing while Angola has a small population.

We further noted that even as numbers continue to grow, human-elephant conflict is escalating in much of the elephant range due to competition for limited resources and the effects of climate change. The conflict is aggravated by inadequate local level participatory land use planning and conflicting land use policies. It was also recognised that communities are often not adequately empowered to deal with this conflict.

We note with concern the recent upsurge in illegal offtake of elephants on much of the African continent. If this state of affairs is allowed to continue unabated, it will pose a very real threat to the survival of this iconic species in much of its range.

We acknowledge that the African elephant has been the subject of much discussion in international fora such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of fauna and flora (CITES).

The conditions for trade in elephants and their parts and derivatives have been the subject of often acrimonious debate with onerous conditions being placed upon those countries whose elephant populations are currently on Appendix II.

Efforts by southern African elephant range states to sustainably manage their populations are subjected to constant media scrutiny which often does not take into consideration the aspirations of the KAZA range states.

We contend, however, that communities deserve to derive benefits from the sustainable utilisation of natural resources including elephants; particularly since they are the ones who bear the brunt of living side by side with these elephants.

In reaching agreement on the specific actions to be taken to manage the KAZA elephants, we recognized the principle of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of the respective partner states, acknowledged the variable state of readiness of KAZA partner states to adopt all resolutions and noted the uneven distribution and abundance of elephants across the KAZA landscape.

We resolved to:

i. Conduct transboundary coordinated and synchronized KAZA wide aerial surveys of elephant (and other wildlife populations) according to standardized methodologies to allow comparability across the KAZA landscape;

ii. Harmonise management of elephants as much as possible while taking into account national peculiarities and priorities;

iii. Provide for integrated land use planning and harmonisation of land use policies at KAZA level.

iiii. Provide incentives for communities to continue tolerating and coexisting with elephants;

v. Ensure that the management of elephants is adaptive;

vi. Standardize approaches to stockpile management;

vii. Improve regional collaboration on wildlife crime through implementation of the Southern African Development Community Law Enforcement and Anti- Poaching Strategy;

viii. Engage transit and destination countries to address issues of demand reduction for illegal ivory;

ix. Effectively engage the international community on matters related to elephant conservation and management, including lobbying for support for the proposals submitted by KAZA member states to CITES CoP 18;

(Anm.: es unterzeichnen Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Sambia, Simbabwe)
Quelle: fb BWgovernment

Gruß Gina

Danke Gina, für den Update.
Ich entnehme diesem Statement keine unmittelbaren Handlungsfelder - die strategische Umsetzung liegt noch in der Zukunft. Ein Lichtblick ist die Aussage, dass Tierzählungen nach int. Standards weiter gemacht werden sollen - was ja im Q4 2018 für Botswana der Fall war.
Wenn ich zurückblende, dann sieht man schnell Veränderungen in Botswana in Bezug auf die Elefanten:
- Die Zäune um Kasane rum, damit die Elefanten nicht mehr direkt in die Ortschaft kommen - gab's vor 5 Jahren noch nicht
- Senyati, wo Louw mit seinem Wasserloch alleine war auf weiter Flur, und heute links und rechts Zäune, welche Neubauten abgrenzen
Ich will gar nicht daran denken, was Besucher in 30 Jahren vorfinden werden im südlichen Afrika...
Aber es ist ja überall so. Wenn ich mir vorstelle wie ich vor 40 Jahren einfach in den Louvre, Prado, National Gallery, Uffizien, etc. marschiert bin wenn's mich interessierte und heute mit den Reservationen, Schlangen stehen etc.
Gruss Rajang

Hi Rajang,
in den letzten Monaten war ja offensichtlich, dass Masisi das von Khama eingeführte Abschussverbot von Elefanten kippen möchte.
Für mich persönlich hatte dieses Summit den bitteren Beigeschmack, hier nicht unbedingt nach Lösungen für den Elefanten-Mensch-Konflikt zu suchen, sondern vielmehr Sympathisanten für das Kippen dieser Bestimmung innerhalb der KAZA zu finden.
Ramophosa hat mit seiner Aussage am Ende der Africa Travel Indaba, "Tourism is the new gold",
bestimmt unbewusst zum Ausgang des Summits beigetragen, denn der internationale Aufschrei (TIerschützer, NGOs, Touristen)
gegen Masisis Vorstoß war groß, und alle teilnehmenden Staatsoberhäupter haben die Wichtigkeit von Tourismus in ihrem Land ausdrücklich betont. Ob Masisi in seinem eigenen Parlament dafür eine Mehrheit bekommen wird, bleibt abzuwarten.
Gruß Gina

Elefanten beschädigen Khama Rhino Zäune

Erik Verreynne ist mit Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust unterwegs.
21 Std.
Through the windscreen of my vehicle.....
The challenges managing the elephants are growing amidst three more people being killed by elephants in Botswana this week.

For three days this week elephants caused damage to the fences of Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust, a community trust looking after Botswana’s rhino conservation history.
Early Wednesday morning a group of about elephant 14 cows and calves broke the boundary fence from the north, and out again towards Mogorosi village to the south. The next night five more bulls broke in near the main gate and out towards the south following the same pattern. On Friday morning the bulls returned, breaking back from the south, drinking at the extension and out again towards the northwest. Fortunately the fences were repaired before any rhinos could escaped and the damage to key tree species was minimal. It was a thrill tracking these magnificent animals when they were in stealth mode, passing the restaurant unnoticed and moving silently, hardly disturbing the thick brush they were passing through, skillfully avoiding the camp sites before they broke out again.

It sounds great and pretty “normal” for the north of Botswana nowadays. Yet we are not in the north of Botswana. We are near Serowe, administrative town of the Central District, 300km Southwest from the Makgadikgadi National Park where they use to concentrate.
The Boteti River, the seasonal life giving artery is dry, unlikely to flow again this year due to the low levels of the Delta inflow. No rain filled ponds or pans break the dusty river bed due to the drought. Even the Molapo farming framing the flood plains is gone, leaving fields only filled with wilted weeds. And as result, the elephants are pushing south, the usual crop raiding bulls seen in the past being followed by larger family groups of cows and calves, deeper and deeper into the heart of Botswana, closer and closer to conflict.
Seeing elephants in this area is not entirely unusual. For a number of years a few bulls would embark on raiding operations, moving in and out in a matter of a few weeks. The episodes were solitary, the damage limited and at most provided gossip around the evening fires at the cattle posts.
However, hunger and thirst are merciless, driving the matriarchs to ignore their instincts, leading their herds where the memories of old conflict have faded many years ago and the smell of blood have long been blown away by the winds of time.

Reports are they are coming from Mmashoro where there are herds of elephants resident, causing havoc to the infrastructure. Cattle owners are searching for their cattle that dispersed after the fences have been destroyed. Conflict is thriving and two bulls were shot not far to the north.

As I am watching the fence being repaired, I cannot help feeling helpless and in despair. The situation we are in is a mounting tragedy. Drought, conflict and numbers without real solutions are setting a table for an inevitable blood bath. The elephants are dispersing faster than our capacity to mitigate conflict can follow. Every incident of conflict are leaving a bad memory that will affect co-existence between our people and our elephants for many years to come.

It is time to set aside our distant petty differences about politics, hunting and moral beliefs and look for real solutions closer to home. It is time to strip all the layers of our hidden self-centered arguments and face reality. If not, history again will tell a story of a far away war where snippets of news “back home” gave rise to more “feel good” policies and boycotts. A story of a war that ended only because death drained the strength to keep the red flag waving....

Quelle: fb Erik Verreynne
Gruß Gina

Erik Verreyne (siehe oben) schrieb auch:
africasustainablecon...onflict-with-people/

Grüße