BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Professor Patience Gandiwa, the newly appointed chairperson of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Wildlife, has emphasized the urgent need for African countries to rethink their ideas and potential solutions around the contentious ivory trade ban.

“Africa needs to reflect deeply on the implications of this ban and work collaboratively to find acceptable (and sustainable) solutions that take into account the diverse perspectives within our African communities,” she asserted.

In a compelling dialogue with VicFallsLive, Gandiwa addressed the pressing issues posed by the ivory trade ban, which has, for a long time now, become a significant point of contention in African nations.

To give a brief background on the subject matter.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the international commercial ivory trade in 1989. In 1997, at the 10th Conference of Parties (COP) hosted by Zimbabwe in Harare, a decision was adopted to allow for once-off trade in ivory, recognizing that Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe had healthy populations of elephants, and gave permission for a once-offsale of ivory to Japan in 1999 and financial resources for elephant conservation were raised from legal sales of ivory derived from existing stocks gathered from elephants that died as a result of natural causes or from problem-animal control.

The elephant populations of Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe are listed in Appendix II of the Convention (which allows for regulated commercial trade), while all other African elephant populations are listed in Appendix I (which prohibits all commercial trade).

Following the once-off sale, a ban of ivory trade was put under CITES in 2008, for 9 consecutive years/3 CoPs (as per annotation) technically lapsed, but still in force as there is no mechanism for such trade under CITES.

This has, over the years, sparked ongoing devisive debates amongst African nations, as they grapple with the implications on ‘both-side-of the-coin’.

Whilst CITES CoP10 (Resolution.10.10) marked a significant step in addressing the complexities of the ivory trade, particularly in the context of the historic establishment of Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) to monitor and analyze illegal ivory trade trends and the emphasis on better stock management and international cooperation, crucial in the ongoing efforts to combat illegal ivory trade and protect elephant populations, some challenges have persisted.

“The issue of ivory trade has long been a contentious topic,” Gandiwa remarked.

“Currently, there seems to be no one-size-fits-all solution on how we can approach this matter and I believe, through constructive dialogue, we should find practical and sustainable options to explore

“The bottom-line though, we all know that unregulated international trade can push threatened and endangered species to extinction, especially when combined with factors such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflicts and climate change. We also know that banning trade is also not a panacea as such bans have been enforced for several species and did not necessarily yield desired outcomes.

At the same time there are case studies demonstrating that putting economic value on species can cancreate significant incentives for its conservation and recovery (the Zimbabwean nile crocodile is a good example), and yet still that approach may not work for other species. Therefore, what can we do about the current ivory dilemma under CITES?”

Zimbabwe for example, with its second-largest population of elephants globally, has felt the economic and ecological weight of this restriction acutely.

“As elephants die naturally or are culled due to human-animal conflict, the ivory collected is stored securely,” she explains, emphasizing the implications of the accumulated stockpile.

“The country is sitting on over 130 tones of ivory, a figure that has grown since the last sale in 2008. This situation raises urgent questions about how we can address the stockpiling and the challenges that arise from it.”

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Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are facing similar challenges. On the other hand, the status of several African elephant populations remains endangered and critically endangered (as per classification of IUCN for both species of Loxodonta) and still in dire need of concerted efforts and measures to improve the situation. There are seemingly no obvious solutions, and we need to wear our ‘thinking caps’ and confront this matter starting with dialogue.

Gandiwa’s perspective highlighted the necessity for African nations to engage in constructive and collaborative dialogue.

“If Africa agrees to disagree on this contentious issue of ivory stockpiles, we must ask: What alternatives can we explore to create a win-win situation?” she proposes, advocating for a united approach to address conservation challenges while acknowledging the realities of countries across the heterogenous landscape of Africa.

Furthermore, Gandiwa highlighted the recent global shifts in international development assistance, urging African nations to innovate and identify new financing mechanisms beyond trade.

“We can no longer depend solely on traditional funding sources,”.

“We need to explore proposals such as biodiversity credits, recognition of the role of wildlife in climate action and provide the necessary funding to protect Africa’s charismatic wildlife without relying on the traditional sources of financing conservation in light of growing shifts of priorities in the global finance landscapes. Some donor countries are becoming more inward-looking prioritising addressing conflicts and strenghtening securing over environment or wildlife matters.If we can draw inspiration from how carbon credit market and even financial engineering innovations developed over the years, Africa has the capacity to generate the much-needed revenue to finance species conservation. Most of the options however, still rely on functional multilaralism.

Exploring Viable Alternatives

As the discussions deepened, Gandiwa emphasized that multiple alternatives are available even if trade does not emerge as a viable option (at this stage) for all countries ND stakeholdersconcerned. “We have seen a range of proposed solutions in previous negotiations, such as Mobilizing Sustainable Finance For African Elephant Conservation and other endangered species,” she recalls. “Now it is time to take those proposals further— to operationalize them, secure initial capital, and implement innovative strategies that align with our unique challenges.”

She further elaborated on the need for understanding and cooperation within the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife.

“A debate over whether to allow the ivory trade shouldn’t lead to fragmentation among us. If one party opposes the trade for their own reasons while another seeks to justify it, it doesn’t mean either is wrong. Both perspectives are valid,” she suggested. “What we need to do is recognize these differing views and find workable for solutions that bridge our differences rather than push us further apart.”

Navigating the Path Ahead

As Gandiwa reflected on the future, she asserted the importance of unity among African governments.

“This fight isn’t just about ivory; it’s about our heritage, our economies, our environment and the Africa we want, Africa’s Agenda 2063. We must present a coherent voice to the global community, showcasing that we seek dialogue over discord,” she stated firmly.

The call for Africa to present itself as a rational and united front on wildlife conservation is urgent, especially in a world that increasingly values partnerships and mutual understanding.

Concluding her reflections, Professor Gandiwa expresses profound optimism about the innovative solutions African nations can create together.

“The conversation surrounding the ivory trade ban is one that needs to evolve,” she declares.

“We must focus on sustainability and coexistence rather than perpetuating cycles of exclusion/ isolation. The implications of these negotiations extend far beyond wildlife; they underscore our commitment to the economic well-being and our communities,”

“Together, we can solve this ivory dilemma under CITES and the current ‘stale mate’ can be resolved effectivelythrough deliberate efforts of the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife and the CITES institutional infrastructure & robust decision making machinery.”

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

VicFallsLive Managing Editor, Nokuthaba Dlamini sat down with Professor Patience Gandiwa to discuss the issue of human-wildlife conflicts as she assumes her new role as Chairperson of the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife.

As Africa’s human population continues to increase in areas where people are already co-existing with wildlife, so does the frequency of human-wildlife conflicts due to the inevitable spatial overlaps that happen. This complex issue affects not only conservation efforts but also the livelihoods of local communities. Sometimes a landscape of fear is created affecting the social life for both humans and wildlife.

Professor Gandiwa shed light on the challenges and potential solutions to this pressing problem.

Gandiwa emphasized the need for objectivity and inclusivity in addressing human-wildlife conflicts. At Africa level, context is very important as the situation is not homogenous across the continent. “I look at these issues objectively, without taking a solely Zimbabwean perspective. I need to understand the context of my colleagues in other sub-regions in Africa, to appreciate the situation in their countries, the threats they face, and options at their disposal to address the challenges. By doing so, we can determine what’s best for Africa (as a whole) without running the risk of being too prescriptive. I remember talking to a friend from Gabon Dr Lea-Larisa Moukagni (Gabon National Parks Agency) who shared many increasing human-elephant conflict challenges her country is facing with increasing elephant population as well as increasing human population. Zimbabwe is facing similar challenges and there are opportunities to learn from each other

Matetsi woman attacked by a crocodile

We sometimes make difficult decisions at global level to accommodate African countries unique situations, such as listing species in different appendices. That alone also comes with itsown challenges.

She highlighted the complexity of human-wildlife conflicts, citing the growing population of both humans and wildlife. “Africa’s population is growing, and in some parts of Africa, we have seen significant increase in wildlife populations. Coupled with that, we have also seen an increasing trajectory in livestock populations in the same landscapes dominated by wildlife, but the land areas of these places or countries have not necessarily been expanding. Therefore this is really one of the serious challenges of our time, where the whole–of–society and whole-of-government approach must be demonstrated. It’s not just a nice thing to adopt or a nice approach, but it’s actually a necessity.”

Gandiwa stressed the importance of investing in technological applications to better understand wildlife movement patterns and spatial overlaps. “We need to invest in technology, for example, that brings in tech companies and technopreneurial innovators to say, ‘How can we take advantage of biotelemetry and invest in satellite collars so that we understand and do more research to understand the movement patterns and map the conflict hotspots, targeting those species that are actually coming into conflict?’ How can we innovate, for example, to explore sustainable financing that support implementation of livelihood diversification strategies and alternatives in the face of climate change?”

Lion beheaded by poachers

She also emphasized the need for innovative approaches to addressing human-wildlife conflict. “If the wildlife constituency was not necessarily engaging with agriculture and water, this is the time to talk to each other and say, ‘Hey, out of the 370 people that have lost their lives in Zimbabwe due to human wildlife conflicts since 2019 and the 453 seriously injured, 939 cattle, 166 donkeys and 203 goats lost to carnivores, maybe the majority of victims that died have been attacked by crocodiles. Why are people losing their lives at these life-giving rivers? Yes, they are monsters – monster crocs in these rivers. There are hippos too and hippos are dangerous animals too. Hippos and crocs are dangerous fauna listed under the Parks and Wildlife Act, despite their Appendix II listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). How can we bring water to the people then if people are dying or being maimed trying to fetch water from the rivers? What can we do to prevent livestock loses each time they are taken to the river for water? Perhaps drilling boreholes, again, being mindful of safe-yield principles and safeguards on managing the risk of aquifer depletion. There are other novel means of mitigating human wildlife conflicts which have been tested successfully in various parts of Africa, from participatory landuse planning to use of bees as recognition of traditional ecological knowledge. Now, these are the kinds of discussionswe need.

Africa still requires more investment in sustainable and long-term measures. Mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts is usuallymuch less costly and much more effective and sustainable if we invest more in mitigation initiatives such as conservation agriculture, awareness raising, avoiding a the problem is better than trying to address it when it has already happened for example when someone who has lost their limb or worse still, dies.” There is no compensation scheme that can ever replace someone’s life, we can only talk of some relief.

Gandiwa highlighted the importance of empowering local communities and involving them in decision-making processes. “We really need to explore other non-conventional approaches of providing livelihoods such as innovation hubs in the wildlife-rich areas, promotion of the Arts and Crafts industry, support for sustainable tourism and green energy investments.”

Instead of someone going to the river to catch that fish only. How can we innovate in the space of cage-culture and aquaculture? Zimbabwe has over 10,000 dams outside the protected area network, for example, where viable projects in fish farming or even crocodile farming can be explored and unlock new opportunities for jobs, economic emancipation, and also mitigating human-wildlife conflicts.”

The issue of human-wildlife conflicts is further complicated by the need for international cooperation and fair-trade practices. Gandiwa noted that the decline in international donor assistance has led countries like Zimbabwe to seek alternative solutions. “This is why, when there is a decline in international donor assistance, countries in facing budget shortfalls on conservation financing might say, ‘Okay, if there is no aid, what about legal trade opportunities in line with Africa’s wildlife economy growth aspirations?’ African countries can unlock the value of what they have already, sustainably sweating their own natural capital assets through clean and secure legal markets, perhaps the funding gap can be bridged?“ Financial resource constrains often limit what African countries can do for themselves without holding a begging bowl.

Rescued snared elephant in Victoria Falls

Gandiwa also emphasized the need for local communities to have a voice in decision-making processes that affect them. “It’s actually quite a highly emotive issue, and it’s such a sensitive and multi-dimensional issue related to human-wildlife conflictswhen we mirror it in international discourse on trade and CITES-listed species. There’s been quite a pushback in terms of the participation of local communities in the decision-making and advisory framework of the governing bodies and processes, which has also been viewed as not so nice or not so progressive.”

As the Chairperson of the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife, Gandiwa is committed to work closely with all African countries in finding sustainable solutions to human-wildlife conflicts, particularly conflicts involving endangered species listed under CITES as well as migratory species listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Fauna 

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A dramatic rescue operation was carried out last week by the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, in collaboration with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), to save a young female elephant from a wire snare.

According to a statement posted by the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust on Facebook:

“Last week, we received an urgent call from Zimparks about a young female elephant in distress—a wire snare was tightly wrapped around her mouth and tusks.”

The elephant was spotted near Masuwe Lodge, where her herd was peacefully drinking at the waterhole. Acting swiftly, the trust’s team carefully separated the distressed elephant from her herd and darted her, allowing them to remove the snare and collect vital health samples.

Thankfully, the wire hadn’t cut deeply, and the young elephant was soon back on her feet, reunited with her family.

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust expressed gratitude to Zimparks and Adrian Read for their dedication to protecting wildlife, saying:

“Thank you to Zimparks and Adrian Read for their dedication to protecting our wildlife.”