African Wildlife Foundation

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

SPECIESIN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NGOS, COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AWF WORKS TO CONSERVE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING AFRICAN APES (GORILLAS, CHIMPANZEES, AND BONOBOS), SAVANNAH AND FOREST ELEPHANTS, GIRAFFES, LARGE CARNIVORES, AND RHINOCEROS. AWF WORKS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO UNDERSTAND OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS FACING SPECIES, CRAFT AND IMPLEMENT RECOVERY AND ACTION PLANS, AND TRACK AND EVALUATE IMPACT OVER TIME AND DISTANCE. WE PROVIDE CAPACITY-BUILDING THAT INCLUDES EQUIPPING RANGERS AND COMMUNITY SCOUTS AND PROVIDING WILDLIFE DETECTION AND SNIFFER DOGS TO FIGHT POACHING AND THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:OUR COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES A SUITE OF PROJECTS DESIGNED TO FIGHT POACHING AND TRAFFICKING (CANINES FOR CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL ASSISTANCE, WILDLIFE CYBERCRIME), IS GROWING. IN FY22, AWF SUPPORTED CANINE DETECTION TEAMS IN BOTSWANA, MOZAMBIQUE, TANZANIA, KENYA, UGANDA, AND CAMEROON TO CONDUCT ROUTINE SEARCHES AND INTELLIGENCE LED OPERATIONS. THE DOG TEAMS IN BOTSWANA, MOZAMBIQUE, TANZANIA, KENYA, AND UGANDA SEARCHED 12,794 FLIGHTS, OVER 5 MILLION CARGO SHIPMENTS, AND OVER 52 MILLION PIECES OF LUGGAGE. THE EFFORTS BY THE CANINE DETECTION TEAMS RESULTING IN 78 ARRESTS AND 41 FINDS, INCLUDING 632 KILOGRAMS OF IVORY, 15 KILOGRAMS OF RHINO HORN, AND 873 KILOGRAMS OF PANGOLIN SCALES. IN KENYA, TANZANIA, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, AND ETHIOPIA, WE HAVE PLACED COURT-MONITORING TEAMS THAT SUPPORT PROSECUTORS IN PRE-TRIAL PROCESSES, INCLUDING ASSISTING WITH EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY AND PREPARING WITNESSES, USUALLY RANGERS, FOR TRIAL. WE HELD NUMEROUS TRAININGS FOR PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCERS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF WILDLIFE CRIME. TOPICS INCLUDED PRINCIPLES OF INVESTIGATION AND AN INVESTIGATOR'S ROLE, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AND TAKING STATEMENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT, EVIDENCE HANDLING AND STORAGE (CHAIN OF CUSTODY), PREPARING WITNESSES FOR TRIAL, AND COMPELLING WITNESS ATTENDANCE.WE DONATED A 12-SEATER BOAT TO THE ZIMBABWE PARKS AND WILDLIFE AUTHORITY TO ENHANCE TRANSBOUNDARY COLLABORATION (ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE TO CONDUCT JOINT PATROLS) ON THE ZAMBEZI RIVER. THE PATROLS HELP CURB POACHING AND WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING IN THE MID-ZAMBEZI VALLEY LANDSCAPE.

LAND CONSERVATIONFY 2022 SAW AWF LAY GROUND FOR A HISTORIC AND UNPRECEDENTED ASSERTION OF AFRICAN CONSERVATION VOICES. WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES FOR THE JULY 2022 AFRICA PROTECTED AREAS CONGRESS (APAC). THE EVENT WOULD BE THE FIRST CONTINENT-WIDE GATHERING OF AFRICAN LEADERS, CITIZENS, AND INTEREST GROUPS TO DISCUSS THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS IN SAFEGUARDING NATURE, DELIVERING LIFE-SUPPORTING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, AND SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. AWF HOSTED THE AFRICA PROTECTED AREA DIRECTORS (APAD) FOR A PRECURSOR EVENT TO THE CONGRESS. AT THAT MEETING, THE PARTICIPANTS FORMULATED PLANS FOR A PAN-AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA CONSERVATION TRUST, A MECHANISM DESIGNED TO ENSURE STABLE FUNDING FOR AFRICA'S PROTECTED AREASA HISTORICAL LACK PUT IN BOLD RELIEF BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT, SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT, SHUT DOWN TOURISM. IN ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF AWF'S ROLE AS A LEADING CONVENER OF AFRICAN CONSERVATION LEADERS AND OTHERS WITH CONSERVATION INTERESTS, WE HELPED ESTABLISH APAD DURING THE PANDEMIC.ON THE GROUND, AWF WORKS IN 17 LANDSCAPES ACROSS 10 COUNTRIES, GUIDED BY A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC VISION CRAFTED TO ENSURE THAT WILDLIFE AND PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS THRIVE IN MODERN AFRICA. WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND CRITICAL ECOSYSTEMS, WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF SPECIES AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN PROTECTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS IN THESE AREAS, WE IMPROVE CONSERVATION CAPACITY, SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISES, AND PROMOTE HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT MITIGATION. BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS:AWF HAS PARTNERED WITH THE RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND ECO PLANET BAMBOO RWANDA ON ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION, PLANTING BAMBOO IN THE 27.8 HECTARES AWF DONATED TO THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT IN 2018 TO HELP EXPAND VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK. ASIDE FROM DEFENDING AGAINST SOIL EROSION, THE BAMBOO WILL PROVIDE AREA COMMUNITIES WITH ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION, FURNITURE, SMALLER CRAFTS, AND MORE. THIS WORK MODELS ACROSS THE ENTIRE VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK LANDSCAPE HOW RESTORATION CAN BE DONE TO CREATE RESILIENCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.IN TANZANIA'S KILOMBERO DISTRICT, AWF ENCOURAGES REFORESTATION EFFORTS AND PROVIDES FARMERS WITH HIGH-YIELD, DROUGHT-TOLERANT SEEDS AND CLIMATE-SMART FARMING TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE RICE, COCOA, AND SUGARCANE HARVESTS. THE COMMUNITY HAS PLANTED 600,000 TREES AND RESTORED FARMLAND, RIVERBANKS, AND THE PROTECTED RUIPA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.IN TSAVO-MKOMAZI (KENYA-TANZANIA), WE CONDUCTED AWARENESS MEETINGS ON THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATORY LAND-USE PLANNING IN ACCOMMODATING DIVERSE LAND USES AND CREATING PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. WE ORGANIZED AND FACILITATED A FORUM IN THE FARO LANDSCAPE IN CAMEROON, BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS ECO-SECURITY AND TRANSHUMANCE IN THE GREAT FARO-NIGERIA BLOC. AWF SUPPORTS THE TANGO UNIT, AN ELITE GROUP OF FULANI CATTLE HERDERS CHOSEN BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR INTEGRITY AND LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. TANGO SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TRANSHUMANCE IN THE PROTECTED AREA AND DIALOGUE WITH HERDERS TO SECURE PASTURE ZONES THAT DON'T THREATEN THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM. (TRANSHUMANCE IS SEASONAL, MIGRATORY LIVESTOCK HERDING THAT CAN HARM HABITAT AND CREATE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES). THIS WORK NOT ONLY HELPS TRANSFORM RELATIONS BETWEEN PASTORAL AND FARMING COMMUNITIES, BUT IT ALSO HELPS DEMONSTRATE HOW CONSERVATION CAN CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE-BUILDING AND SHARED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BY COMMUNITIES.AWF WORKS WITH THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION (MCC) IN NIGER'S DOSSO/GAYA REGION TO INCREASE RURAL INCOMES THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY RESULTING FROM MODERNIZED, IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS WITH SUFFICIENT MARKET ACCESS. RECENT ACTIVITIES IN THE SIA KOUANZA REGION INCLUDE RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A HYDROGEOLOGICAL MODEL OF THE ALLUVIAL AQUIFER; WATER ANALYSES, INCLUDING ISOTOPIC AND DATING ANALYSES; AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BOREHOLES AND INSTALLATION OF PIEZOMETERS. PARTNERS IN THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE AVIGNON UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITIES OF NIAMEY, NEVADA, AND PARIS-SACLAY. THIS NATURE-BASED SOLUTION HELPS DEMONSTRATE THE LINKS BETWEEN HEALTHY, INTACT ECOSYSTEMS AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, INCLUDING WATER FOR AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT.AWF SHARES DATA AND INFORMATION WITH AUTHORITIES AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN LANDSCAPES WHERE WE WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, AWF STAFF PRESENTED FIVE PAPERS AT THE 13TH TAWIRI SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE, INCLUDING STUDIES ON GIRAFFES, THE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PROCESS, ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY WILDLIFE SCOUTS, AND THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF COMMUNITIES LIVING NEAR WILDLIFE AREAS. THE RESEARCH PROVIDES SCIENTIFIC, EVIDENCE-BASED GROUNDING FOR AWF'S WORK IN THE LANDSCAPES, CONTRIBUTING KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL FOR PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, TRACKING, AND EVALUATING IMPACT. AWF PROVIDED TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE FOR PRODUCTION OF THE INAUGURAL ZIMBABWE BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY REPORT. THE REPORT IS AMONG THE FEW REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN AFRICA TO MAP THE STATUS AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY AND SEEK WAYS OF PROMOTING ITS GROWTH. THE GOAL OF THE REPORT IS TO ENSURE THAT BIODIVERSITY VALUES ARE RECOGNIZED AND INTEGRATED INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND NATIONAL ACCOUNTS. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ENDORSED THE REPORT, WHICH IS ALREADY INFLUENCING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY REVIEWS IN THE COUNTRY.AWF'S SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE AUTHORITIES AND OTHER PARTNERS INCLUDES HELPING MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE PROTECTED AREAS AND THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. IN FY22, WE HELPED REHABILITATE ROADS IN CAMEROON'S FARO NATIONAL PARK AND UPGRADED OFFICES AND EQUIPMENT TO EASE LOGISTICS INVOLVED IN ANTI-POACHING AND PROTECTED-AREA MANAGEMENT. LIKEWISE IN ZIMBABWE, AWF CONSTRUCTED RANGERS' HOUSES, OFFICES, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT RAPID-RESPONSE ANTI-POACHING OPERATIONS IN THE MID-ZAMBEZI VALLEY. IN THE DRC'S BILI-UELE LANDSCAPE, WE CONSTRUCTED PONDS TO ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SUSTAINABLE FISHING AND BUILT A COMMUNITY RADIO STATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF WILDLIFE ENDANGERMENT AND SUPPORT ANTI-POACHING WORK; WE ALSO BUILT FIELD OFFICES FOR OUR PARTNER, THE INSTITUT CONGOLAIS POUR LA CONSERVATION DE LA NATURE, TO COORDINATE THEIR CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION. IN ZIMBABWE'S CHEWORE NORTH AND SOUTH, WE INSTALLED A DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEM TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE BASE AND RANGERS IN THE FIELD. FINALLY, WE ARE RENOVATING OUR HEADQUARTERS IN NAIROBI TO CREATE A CONSERVATION CONVENING CENTER, ENHANCE THE WORKSPACE ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY BY INVESTING IN GREEN ENERGY, AND ACCOMMODATE STAFF GROWTH. THESE PROJECTS ARE A SAMPLE OF AWF'S INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES.

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIPAWF IS STRATEGIC ABOUT CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP, WHICH WE ADVANCE TO HELP FOSTER A GENERATION OF AFRICANS WHO WORK TO FURTHER CONSERVATION ON THE CONTINENT AND MODEL A CONSERVATION MINDSET FOR OTHER AFRICANS, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN YOUTH. HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JACKSON WILD, AWF CREATED THE AFRICAN CONSERVATION VOICES MEDIA LABS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES MENTORSHIP AND SKILLS-BUILDING TO EARLY AND MID-CAREER AFRICAN CONSERVATION FILMMAKERS. SO FAR, WE HAVE SUPPORTED 38 FELLOWS, FROM KENYA AND RWANDA, WITH THE HELP OF EXPERT FILMMAKERS AND CONSERVATIONISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IN FY22, WE ONBOARDED THE SECOND COHORT OF INTERNS FROM THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY, WHO WORKED WITH AWF'S YOUTH PROGRAM AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS. AWF AND THE UNIVERSITY HAVE AGREED TO JOINTLY MENTOR CONSERVATION STUDENTS AND COLLABORATE ON APPLIED RESEARCH. WE ALSO COMMENCED TRAINING OF 18 FELLOWS IN THE INAUGURAL CHARLES R. WALL YOUNG AFRICAN POLICY FELLOWS, A NEW YEARLONG PROGRAM OFFERED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AFRICAN CONSERVATIONISTS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN FORMULATING BIODIVERSITY POLICIES AT THE REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. OUR COROLLARY CHARLES R. WALL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS BESPOKE LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND INTENSE MENTORSHIP AND COACHING SUPPORT TO FUTURE CONSERVATION MANAGERS.ALONGSIDE THE AFRICAN CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL YOUTH BIODIVERSITY NETWORK, WE HOSTED THE VIRTUAL AFRICAN YOUTH SUMMIT ON BIODIVERSITY, WHICH ATTRACTED MORE THAN 400 PARTICIPANTS AND HAD A RICH SELECTION OF SPEAKERS WHO DISCUSSED PROGRESS ON THE POST-2020 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN THE CONSERVATION SECTOR.AWF'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TEAM REPRESENTED AWF IN THE AFRICA CLIMATE WEEK IN GABON, WHERE THEY PURSUED COLLABORATION ON WORK RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AHEAD OF THE COP17 UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MALI HAI CLUBS AND THE EDUCATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENTS OF TANZANIA, AWF ORGANIZED A STUDENT CONFERENCE ON CONSERVATION AT MANYARA RANCH PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND WILDLIFE CLUB PATRONS FROM MANYARA, SILALEI, AND OLTUKAI PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND PROVIDED THE STUDENTS WITH NEW CONSERVATION KNOWLEDGE.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATURE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY, AWF HELD THE INAUGURAL BENJAMIN MKAPA AFRICAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS (NAMED IN HONOR OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT OF TANZANIA AND AWF TRUSTEE). THE AWARDS PROGRAM AIMS TO ENGAGE AND INVOLVE PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AT ALL PROFICIENCY LEVELS TO SHARE STORIES FROM THE FIELD THAT INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE NEW ADVOCATES FOR CONSERVATION. THE AWARDS HONORED 16 WINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS WORLDWIDE, SELECTED FROM NEARLY 9,000 ENTRIES FROM 50 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING 10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES.AWFS CHINA AND AFRICA PROGRAM COLLABORATED IN ESTABLISHING PLATFORMS FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION AND YOUTH GROUPS ACROSS THE TWO REGIONS. AWF JOINED FRIENDS OF NATURE TO HOST A COLLABORATION BETWEEN AFRICAN AND CHINESE YOUTH, THE SEVENTH IN A SERIES OF CONTINUING DIALOGUES DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONS BETWEEN YOUNG CONSERVATIONISTS OF BOTH REGIONS. AWF'S CONTINUED FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL, AND SECRETARIAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PIVOTAL TO THE EVOLUTION AND SUCCESS OF THE AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY BIODIVERSITY ALLIANCE (ACBA) AS A PAN-AFRICAN NETWORK FOCUSED ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOODS. THIS SUPPORT ENABLES COORDINATION CENTRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY NETWORK. ACBA'S VOICE IS BEING HEARD WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD AS A RESULT OF THIS SUPPORT, AND ACBA HAS BENEFITED IMMENSELY FROM ACCESS TO AWF'S NETWORKS.