African Wildlife Foundation

AWF WORKS TO ENSURE WILDLIFE AND WILDLANDS THRIVE IN MODERN AFRICA.

SPECIESAWF WORKS ACROSS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO CONSERVE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH ELEPHANT, MOUNTAIN GORILLA, GREVY'S ZEBRA, AND THE ETHIOPIAN WOLF. WE TRAIN AND EQUIP NUMEROUS RANGER DEPARTMENTS AND PROVIDE WILDLIFE DETECTION DOGS TO SIX AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO HELP INTERDICT BLACK MARKET TRAFFICKING NETWORKS, UTILIZE THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS, AND ASSIST NATIONAL INITIATIVES TO IDENTIFY AND REDUCE GROWING THREATS TO WILDLIFE, BOTH MANMADE AND OCCURRING IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. AN OVERARCHING THEME IN AWF'S WORK TO PROTECT SPECIES IS OUR COMMITMENT TO EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONSERVATION-FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT.AS PART OF AWF'S MODERN COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING PROGRAM AND SOON TO SERVE EIGHT AFRICAN COUNTRIES (KENYA, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, ETHIOPIA, TANZANIA, BOTSWANA, CAMEROON, MOZAMBIQUE, AND UGANDA) CANINES FOR CONSERVATION IS DESIGNED TO TAKE DOWN ILLEGAL WILDLIFE POACHERS, TRAFFICKERS AND TRADE SYNDICATES. IN FY21, AWF LAUNCHED THE EXPANSION OF ITS CANINES PROGRAM TO ETHIOPIA, STARTING WITH CONSTRUCTING A FACILITY AT BOLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, NEW DOG TEAMS WERE DEPLOYED AT TANZANIA'S KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, WHICH PRODUCED IMMEDIATE RESULTS IN THE FORM OF ARRESTS. IN TANZANIA, THE CANINE TEAMS SEARCHED 2,089 FLIGHTS AND OVER 700 VEHICLES IN 2021. THE TEAMS CONDUCTED 13 INTELLIGENCE-LED OPERATIONS, LEADING TO THE RECOVERY OF 110 KILOGRAMS OF RAW IVORY AND THE ARREST OF 28 SUSPECTS. IN ADDITION TO ENFORCEMENT, THE SNIFFER DOGS ALSO PLAY AN INCREASINGLY POWERFUL ROLE IN DETERRING WOULD-BE SMUGGLERS FROM ATTEMPTING THE WILDLIFE CRIME.AWF IS HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY EVERY DAY TO GIVE WILDLIFE CRIME FIGHTERS THE ADVANTAGE OVER POACHERS, AND PROVIDE NEW TOOLS FOR FIELD-DATA COLLECTION. IN 2021, AWF DELIVERED FOUR FORENSIC WORKSTATIONS TO THE UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY (UWA) IN KAMPALA. THE WORKSTATIONS ENSURE THAT UWA INVESTIGATORS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE WILDLIFE CYBERCRIME INCIDENTS. THEY INCLUDE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION DESKTOP COMPUTERS VALUED AT US$ 11,119 AND EQUIPPED WITH THE REQUISITE SOFTWARE TO ENHANCE WILDLIFE CYBERCRIME FORENSICS. FOLLOWING THE HANDOVER, AWF, UWA, AND UGANDA POLICE FORCE (UPF) HOSTED A DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF UWA INVESTIGATORS TO CARRY OUT TRAINING OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE FIELD ON DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL EVIDENCE.THE AWF WILDLIFE CYBERCRIME INVESTIGATION PROGRAM COMBATS CYBER TRAFFICKING OF ILLEGAL WILDLIFE PRODUCTS THROUGH A NETWORK OF INFORMATION SHARING TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN UNCOVERING, INVESTIGATING, AND DISRUPTING ILLEGAL TRADE IN WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE PRODUCTS THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS. OUTSIDE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARENA, AWF FREQUENTLY PARTNERS WITH AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS TO CONDUCT ECOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON ENDANGERED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. IN MAY 2021, AWF ASSISTED THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE (KWS) IN ITS FIRST COUNTRYWIDE WILDLIFE CENSUS. PATROLS BY AIR, GROUND, AND WATER WERE COMBINED WITH THE EXAMINATION OF DATA FROM CAMERA TRAPS, RADIO COLLARS, AND GROUND SURVEYS. SURVEYORS COUNTED AS MANY SPECIES AS POSSIBLE FROM LARGE TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE MAMMALS, TO KEY BIRD SPECIES. THE KWS CENSUS IS PROVIDING AN INVALUABLE OVERVIEW OF KENYA'S WILDLIFE AND WILL HELP SHAPE FUTURE CONSERVATION WORK, SUCH AS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL ELEPHANT ACTION AND RECOVERY PLAN.

LAND CONSERVATIONAWF WORKS IN LARGE-LANDSCAPES TO DEVELOP CONSERVATION AREAS WHERE RURAL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES CAN CO-EXIST WITH AND BENEFIT FROM THE DIVERSE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS AROUND THEM. PROTECTED AREA PLANS, HOW WE PURSUE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE, WILDLIFE AND LAND, AND METHODS FOR FINANCING CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE ALL PIECES OF A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. AWF PROGRAMS IN THESE AREAS IMPROVE CONSERVATION CAPACITY, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE & MICROENTERPRISES, AND TEACH HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT MITIGATION. LOCATED IN NORTHERN CAMEROON, FARO NATIONAL PARK IS AN ESSENTIAL SAVANNA ECOSYSTEM BORDERING THE FARO RIVER AND NIGERIA TO THE WEST. THE 1,329 SQUARE MILE LARGER LANDSCAPE IS HOME TO AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, BLACK RHINOS, CHEETAHS AND A LARGE HIPPO POPULATION. IN THE FARO LANDSCAPE, AWF SUPPORTS THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEEPER ENGAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES. WE DELIVER PARTICIPATORY LAND-USE PLANNING, TRAINING IN COUNTER-WILDLIFE-TRAFFICKING, AND MEDIATION OF COMMUNITY CONFLICTS RELATED TO TRANSHUMANCE THE PRACTICE OF MOVING LIVESTOCK FROM ONE GRAZING GROUND TO ANOTHER DURING A SEASONAL CYCLE. IN 2021, AWF HELPED LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND FARO TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BY CONVENING TRANSHUMANT HERDERS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND AUTHORITIES TO MEDIATE CONFLICTS OVER LAND RIGHTS. WE HELPED TO SENSITIZE HERDERS TO LAWS GOVERNING LAND USE AND PRESENTED ALTERNATIVES TO HARMFUL GRAZING PRACTICES. FOR COMMUNITY-ROOTED STRATEGIES TO FLOURISH, AWF CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE IN LARGER LANDSCAPES. IN COMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND DJA FAUNAL RESERVE AND CAMPO MA'AN NATIONAL PARK IN CAMEROON, AWF EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES THROUGH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD TRAINING. IN 2021, DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID-19, AWF HELPED 70 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS INCREASE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THEIR NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS AND SURVEY MARKETS AND COMPETITIVE PRICING, RESULTING IN HIGHER INCOMES. DESPITE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19, 71 INDIGENOUS WOMEN SOLD US $28,633 OVER 10 MONTHS A 70 PERCENT REVENUE INCREASE. IN FARO AND CAMEROON'S TCHAMBA DISTRICT, AWF DEVELOPS MICROENTERPRISES IN BEEKEEPING. IN 2021, THE AWF BEEKEEPERS HARVESTED RECORD AMOUNTS OF HONEY AND EXPANDED THEIR INVENTORY OF HIVES. ALONG WITH IMPROVING INCOMES, SUCH PROJECTS FOSTER TRUST IN AWF AND STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE-SECTOR PARTNERS AS WELL. AS AFRICAN COUNTRIES TRY TO OFFSET REVENUE STREAMS FOR CONSERVATION HARMED BY PANDEMIC TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND A SHARP DECLINE IN WILDLIFE TOURISM, GOVERNMENTS ARE SCRAMBLING TO IDENTIFY AND PREVENT BIODIVERSITY LOSS TO HELP STRENGTHEN WILDLIFE ECONOMIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO GDP. IN 2021, AWF WAS APPROACHED BY THE ZIMBABWE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO PRODUCE A REPORT AS A TOOL TO INFORM POLICIES AROUND MAXIMIZING THE COUNTRY'S INCLUSIVE WEALTH AND MAINTAINING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE BASE. THE STUDY WILL BE THE FIRST-EVER STATE OF THE BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY IN ZIMBABWE, INCLUDING A FRAMEWORK FOR NATURAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTING AND A BLUEPRINT FOR LEVERAGING KEY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY.AWF IS TACKLING HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN LARGE LANDSCAPES TO ADDRESS ECOLOGICAL CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO TO MANAGE THE SHIFTING NEEDS OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES. IN AFRICA, WILDLIFE CAN OFTEN POSE A NUISANCE TO FARMERS AND A DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S WHY WE TRAIN ECO-SCOUTS IN MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO HELP SENSITIZE COMMUNITIES TO CONSERVATION REALITIES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE TO THE MAINTENANCE OF HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS. IN FY21, AWF AND THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE IDENTIFIED SIX HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT HOTSPOTS WITHIN THE TSAVO ECOSYSTEM, AND TRAINED 240 FARMERS IN SOLUTIONS THAT INCLUDED MAKING NOISE AND USING LIGHT TO DEFLECT APPROACHING ELEPHANTS. BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2020 AND APRIL 2021, AWF'S RAPID-RESPONSE TEAM IN TSAVO HANDLED 48 HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT INCIDENTS.

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIPAWF INVESTS IN CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH PROGRAMS STRENGTHENING TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS' PRIMARY EDUCATION SYSTEMS SUPPORTING CRITICAL WILDLIFE ECOSYSTEMS. TO ASSIST BUDDING CONSERVATION LEADERS IN COLLEGE, WE LEVERAGE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP NETWORKS FOCUSED ON CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR A GROWING CADRE OF POWERFUL MANAGERS, ADVOCATES AND LEADERS. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, AWF HELPS TO BUILD AND CATALYZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF A RAPIDLY GROWING YOUTH POPULATION ACROSS THE CONTINENT, WHO REPRESENT A CRITICAL FORCE TODAY AND THE KEY TO UNLOCKING A FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHY, THRIVING WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS. WE SEEK TO EMPOWER YOUTH INFLUENCERS AND ACTIVISTS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CRITICAL ISSUES, SUCH AS BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS. ADVOCACY PLAYS AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLE, AND AWF WORKS WITH THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA AND BEYOND TO INTEGRATE CONSERVATION INTO DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC PLANS. IN 2021, AWF AND THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (ALU SOWC) ENTERED AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL SEE BOTH INSTITUTIONS MENTOR UPCOMING CONSERVATION STUDENTS AND COLLABORATE ON APPLIED RESEARCH. THE PARTNERSHIP IN LINE WITH AWF'S YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK WILL SEE AWF PROVIDE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CURATE IDEAS FOR SOLUTIONS THROUGH MBA CAPSTONES, AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AROUND WILDLIFE ECONOMIES ANNUALLY. YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AT AWF HELP TO MOTIVATE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR BIG IDEAS THAT CAN HELP INFLUENCE OTHER STUDENTS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND BIZ LEADERS IN REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL FORUMS AND NEGOTIATIONS. IN 2021, AWF-SUPPORTED THE TOP 100 YOUNG AFRICAN CONSERVATION LEADERS LIST CAMPAIGN TO SPEARHEAD A WIDE RANGE OF MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL PROJECTS FROM ECOTOURISM BUSINESSES IN TANZANIA; TO APPS THAT MAP ILLEGAL-WASTE SITES IN KENYA; TO TOOLKITS FOR WILDLIFE CRIME PROSECUTION IN ZIMBABWE. FOR MONTHS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (OCTOBER 2021), AWF FACILITATED WORKSHOPS FOR COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GLOBAL YOUTH BIODIVERSITY NETWORK (THE OFFICIAL YOUTH DELEGATION TO THE CONVENTION) TO HELP REPRESENTATIVES DEVELOP REGIONAL POSITIONS AND PREPARE FOR DELIBERATIONS. THROUGHOUT 2021, AWF CONVENED CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FROM AFRICA AND CHINA TO PREPARE FOR THE CONVENTION DIALOGUES, WHICH HELPED DEFINE A SHARED AFRICAN VISION FOR PROTECTED AREAS AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION THAT WILL HELP SHAPE CONSERVATION POLICY AND PRACTICE ON THE CONTINENT AS WELL AS GLOBAL INVESTMENT.AS ONE OF THE CO-CONVENERS OF THE FIRST-EVER AFRICA PROTECTED AREAS CONGRESS (APAC), AWF WORKED IN 2021 TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR DELIBERATIONS AND KEY PARTICIPANTS. AT APAC, AWF WILL ENGAGE WITH AFRICA'S MOST IMPORTANT WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITIES, THE AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA DIRECTORS (APAD). THE APAC CONGRESS WILL BE AN IMPETUS TO EXPAND APAD MEMBERSHIP FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT, SERVE AS A FORUM FOR COLLABORATIVE POLICY MAKING, AND INTRODUCE A NEWLY PROPOSED CONSERVATION FINANCE MECHANISM THAT APAD IS RALLYING BEHIND THE FORMATION OF A PAN-AFRICAN CONSERVATION TRUST (A-PACT). INTENDED TO CREATE AN EXHAUSTIVE SUSTAINABLE FINANCING SOLUTION FOR ALL OF AFRICA'S PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS, A-PACT IS ENVISIONED TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT ENDOWMENT (US$ 95-225 BILLION) TO PAY OUT $2.63-6.7 BILLION ANNUALLY ASSUMING A 3% RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WHICH EQUATES TO BETWEEN $390 AND $990 PER KM2 FOR EACH AREA.ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 2022, THE CONGRESS IS CURRENTLY SET TO BE HELD IN KIGALI, RWANDA IN JULY 2022.