Akagera NP Elephant Management Strategy_2008

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A Management Strategy for theConservation of Elephants in the Akagera National

Park, Rwanda

May 2008

M. Karidozo and G. E. Parker


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A Management Strategy for the Conservation of Elephants in theAkagera National Park, Rwanda

Consultants final version

May 2008

M. Karidozo and G.E. ParkerEmail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Suggested citation: Karidozo, M. and Parker, G.E. (2008): A Management Strategy for theConservation of Elephants in the Akagera National Park, Rwanda. May 2008. Wildlife ConservationSociety, New York.


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Table of Contents

List of Figures .................................................................................................................4List of Tables ...................................................................................................................4List of Annexes ................................................................................................................4

List of Acronyms .............................................................................................................4Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................51.0 Summary..............................................................................................................6

1.1 Key considerations...........................................................................................7

1.2 Objectives of the management strategy ............................................................72.0 Introduction .........................................................................................................8

2.1 The African elephant .......................................................................................8

2.2 Threats to the African Elephant........................................................................92.2.1 Lack of institutional capacity....................................................................9

2.2.2 Illegal hunting........................................................................................ 102.2.3 Habitat destruction................................................................................. 10

2.2.4 Human-Elephant Conflict.......................................................................113.0 Rwanda ..............................................................................................................12

3.1 Protected Areas in Rwanda ............................................................................ 12

3.1.1 The colonial era (late 19th

century to 1962).............................................13

3.1.2 The post-independence period (1962-1991)............................................143.1.3 War and post-war period (1991-present).................................................14

3.2 Akagera National Park................................................................................... 154.0 Elephants in Rwanda ..........................................................................................16

4.1 Elephants in Akagera National Park............................................................... 17

4.1.1 Elephant population size ........................................................................ 17

4.1.2 Elephant distribution .............................................................................. 184.1.3 Population dynamics .............................................................................. 184.2 The value of elephants ................................................................................... 18

4.3 Threats to elephants within Akagera National Park ........................................ 194.3.1 Lack of legislation.................................................................................. 19

4.3.2 Lack of institutional capacity..................................................................194.3.3 Lack of information for elephant management ....................................... 19

4.3.4 Human disturbance ................................................................................ 204.3.5 Human-Elephant Conflict.......................................................................20

5.0 A Strategy for Elephant Management ..................................................................215.1 Principles.......................................................................................................21

5.2 Key considerations.........................................................................................215.3 Specific objectives......................................................................................... 226.0 Conclusions........................................................................................................287.0 References..........................................................................................................30


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List of Figures:

Figure 1: Protected areas in RwandaFigure 2: Akagera National Park

List of Tables

Table 1: The elephant population estimate for ANP in 2006

List of Annexes

Annex 1: Institutions involved in conservation in Rwanda

List of Acronyms

AFESG African Elephant Specialist GroupANP Akagera National ParkCAR Central African RepublicCITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and FloraDRC Democratic Republic of CongoGPS Global Positioning SystemHEC Human Elephant ConflictIUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

MIKE Monitoring the Illegal Killing of ElephantsNFR Nyungwe Forest ReserveNGO Non-Governmental OrganisationORTPN Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs NationauxPA Protected AreaSSC Species Survival Commission (IUCN)SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities ThreatsTOR Terms of ReferenceWCS Wildlife Conservation Society


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Acknowledgements

The development of this elephant management strategy stems from the initiatives of thejoint Wildlife Conservation Society)/ Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationauxproject Conservation of Elephants in the Akagera National Park. The authors would like to

thank the Wildlife Conservation Society for funding this strategy and the participants of theelephant strategy workshop whose efforts provided a framework for this document.


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1.0 Summary

The African elephant is highly adaptable and occupies a range of habitats, from arid areas totropical forests. There are currently estimated to be 472,269 elephants distributedthroughout Southern, Eastern, Central and West Africa (Blanc et al.,2007). At present, twosubspecies of African elephants are recognised: the savanna elephant (Loxodonta africanaafricana) and the forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis). Elephants play an importantecological role, particularly in maintaining the diversity of fauna and flora and in regeneratingtheir forest environments. The economic value of elephant tourism and elephant products isalso of considerable importance (Brown, 1989) As a flagship species the elephant holdssignificance in the traditions of many African cultures and is recognised as a focus for raisingawareness and stimulating conservation action throughout the world.

Africas remaining elephants are considered, at a continental level, to be under threat from arange of factors, including habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, illegalhunting for meat and ivory, a lack of management capacity, and negative localised impacts ofelephants on their habitats (Blanc et al., 2007). However, the relative importance of theseissues varies considerably across the continent.

While East African elephant populations are recovering from the poaching of the 1970s and1980s, human population growth and the concomitant loss and fragmentation of habitats arenow the chief threats facing elephants within the region (Blanc et al., 2007). There are highlevels of conflict, which coupled with the lack of economic benefits for communities withinelephant range, lead to animosity towards elephants and the undermining of conservationefforts. The viability of some populations, including those in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Rwanda

is already uncertain (Blanc et al., 2007).

The elephant population in Rwanda is among the smallest in eastern Africa and is thusseriously threatened. There is estimated to be less than 100 elephants in the whole country,with the greatest population residing in Akagera National Park. (ANP).

Elephants face numerous threats: in addition to illegal killing, elephant habitat is underpressure from resource extraction by communities living at the boundary of protected areas.Other factors challenging elephant conservation in Rwanda include institutional weaknessesresulting from political instability in the recent past, socio-economic challenges, and a lack ofcapacity of wildlife conservation including limited financial resources and a lack of well

equipped and trained field staff. Conflict with rural communities is a serious problem thathas caused friction between local people and protected areas. Weak or obsolete legislationand the absence of a national wildlife management policy have posed significant constraintsto effective conservation and management of elephants in Rwanda.

To meet these challenges, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Office Rwandais duTourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) established a joint project Conservation ofElephants in the Akagera National Park, Rwanda. In 2006 WCS and ORTPN

The Goal of this StrategyTo enhance the long-term conservation of elephants and their habitats in Akagera National

Park, Rwanda.


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commissioned an elephant management workshop in which stakeholders identified keyissues in the conservation and management of elephants. The outputs of this workshopform the foundations of this elephant management strategy for ANP, and provide aframework for the development of a national elephant strategy.

This document identifies six key considerations for the improvement of elephantconservation and presents clear objectives and activities through which the management ofANPs elephants will be strengthened.

1.1 Key considerations

The following key considerations are addressed by this strategy:

1. The need to strengthen current wildlife policy to address elephant conservation andwildlife conflict issues.

2. The need to improve ORTPNs capacity to conserve elephants.3. A requirement for information on the elephant population, ecology and habitat use.4. A reduction in the impact of human-elephant conflict upon communities.5. The reduction of human-induced threats to elephant populations and their habitats.6. The need to engender support for elephant conservation among local communities.

1.2 Objectives of the management strategy

In order to address the key considerations identified above, the following specific objectiveshave been identified:

Objective 1. The development of policies and legislation that create an enablingenvironment for elephant conservation in the ANP.

Objective 2.The strengthening of the institutional and human capacity of ORTPN toenable effective elephant conservation.

Objective 3. The development of a comprehensive portfolio of elephant research andmonitoring which addresses questions fundamental to elephant management.

Objective 4. The mitigation of human-elephant conflict in communities borderingANP.

Objective 5.The reduction of human disturbance upon elephant habitat.

Objective 6.The engagement of local communities in elephant conservation.

Each objective has a clearly stated rationale, and targets which define the desired outputs. Aseries of pragmatic activities have been identified as a means of achieving each of theconservation objectives. Thus, activities address objectives, which in turn addressconsiderations. These are detailed in Section 5: A Strategy for Elephant Management.


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2.0 Introduction

2.1 The African elephant

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) belongs to the family Elephantideae, in the order

Probiscidea,which originally evolved in Africa during the Pleistocene era. African elephantsappeared in the fossil records around 750,000 years before present (b.p.), and are believed tohave taken their current form around 40,000 years b.p. They are distinguished from otherlarge mammals by having a nose extended into a trunk, large ears, and upper incisor teeththat develop into tusks (Stephenson, 2004).

Two subspecies of African elephant are recognised: the savanna elephant (Loxodonta africanaafricana), and the forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis).As their names imply, they inhabitdifferent habitats: the savanna elephant is generally found in savanna and woodlandenvironments, whilst the forest elephant occurs in dense tropical forest. The larger savannaelephant (5-7.5 tons, 3-4m at the shoulder) is distributed throughout eastern and southernAfrica, and the smaller forest subspecies (2-4 tons, 2-3m at the shoulder; Grzimek, 1975) isfound predominantly in the Congo Basin of Central Africa. In West Africa elephants live inboth forest and savanna habitats and their taxonomic status remains uncertain (Blanc et al,2007).

Morphologically, the forest elephant has more oval-shaped ears and straighter, downwardpointing tusks. There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton. Interms of behaviour, forest elephants live in smaller social groups of two to four individualscompared with 4-14 in savanna elephant herds; and forest bulls tend to be solitary whereasthe savanna bulls form loose groups.

The African elephant once inhabited most of the continent, from the Mediterranean coast to

the tip of South Africa. It has adapted to many habitat types, including the moist forests ofWest Africa, the dense rain forests of the Congo Basin, the woodlands, forests and acacia-savanna grasslands of the Indian Ocean coast, and arid semi-desert zones in countries suchas Namibia and Mali.

Elephants are generalists and can exploit a large variety of food sources. They have theability to occupy a diverse range of habitats, from closed-canopy forest to deciduouswoodland to bush-grassland. They feed on a variety of plant matter, especially grass, leaves,fruit and bark and can consume up to 5 percent of their body mass in 24 hours (Western &Lindsay 1984).

Elephants are not territorial, although they use specific areas during particular times of theyear. Their ranging patterns are determined by water availability, which in turn is dictated byrainfall (Leuthold, 1977; Afolayan & Ajayi, 1980; Western & Lindsay, 1984). Adult elephantshave a water requirement of about 160 litres per day (Dougall & Sheldrick, 1964), and inregions where water availability is highly seasonal elephant range is restricted to the locationof permanent water.


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The central social unit in elephant society is the mother and her offspring. Matriarchal familygroups often interact with other groups to form clans. Males are driven from these clanswhen they reach 10-14 years of age to live alone or with other males.

The African elephant was among the first recognized flagship species, providing a focus for

raising awareness and stimulating action and funding for broader conservation efforts(Leader-Williams & Dublin, 2000). The elephant is also a keystone species which plays asignificant role in structuring both plant and animal communities (Dublin, 1995; Owen-Smith, 1988; Shoshani, 1993).

Elephants are especially important to protected areas because of their role in regulatingecosystem functions through their foraging behaviors (Laws, 1970). Changes to vegetationstructure and composition have been attributed to elephants in Lake Manyara National Parkand other habitats (Douglas-Hamilton, 1987; Barnes, 1983). While elephant effects onhabitat can be beneficial (Nchangi & Plumptre, 2003; Ruggerio & Fay, 1994), they can alsobe detrimental where elephants exist at high density (Tchamba & Mahamat, 1992; Western &Maitumo, 2004).

There are currently estimated to be 472,269 elephants in 37 range states in sub-SaharanAfrica (Blanc et al., 2007). The distribution of elephants varies greatly across the continent:from small fragmented populations in West Africa to vast tracts of contiguous range inCentral and Southern Africa. Southern Africa accounts for 39% of the African elephantstotal range, followed by Central Africa (29%), East Africa (26%) and finally West Africa(5%) (Blanc et al, 2007).

2.2 Threats to the African Elephant

In its Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2006), the World Conservation Union

considers the African elephant to be Vulnerable, meaning it faces "a high risk of extinctionin the wild in the medium-term future" (Stephenson, 2005). Human activities have beenresponsible for the massive decline in elephant range and numbers across Africa in the pastcentury. The main threats facing elephants today are: a lack of institutional capacity forelephant conservation; illegal hunting for ivory and meat; the loss, deterioration andfragmentation of their habitat; and human-elephant conflict (HEC).

2.2.1 Lack of inst i tutio nal capacityA lack of institutional capacity for elephant conservation and management is common inmost elephant range states. This usually stems from a lack of financial resources and trained

personnel to carry out elephant management activities. The main limitations include: a lackof technical capacity to carry out law enforcement and conservation activities; the absence ofa proactive HEC management strategy; the lack of an enabling legal framework; insufficientor insecure funding sources; and, a lack of information about elephant populations,including distribution, abundance, threats and ecology.


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2.2.2 I l legal huntin gIvory has long been a marketable commodity that has been worked and traded for thousandsof years: the earliest ivory sculptures date back more than 30,000 years (Conard, 2003). Ivoryhas been traded from eastern Africa since Roman times, with a further expansion in the

trade from AD 1000, leading to an apparent peak in the mid nineteenth century (Hakansson,2004).

Throughout much of the twentieth century the hunting of African elephants for their ivory(both legal and increasingly illegal) continued to decimate populations. Accurate historicaldata on population levels are difficult to obtain. However, recent estimates suggest there mayhave been several million African elephants at the start of the twentieth century (Milner-Gulland & Beddington, 1993); numbers declined through the 1930s and 1940s and, aftersevere poaching in the 1970s and 1980s, fewer than 400,000 remained in the early 1990s(Douglas-Hamilton et al., 1995; Said et al.,1995). Elephants were hit particularly hard in the1980s when an estimated 100,000 individuals were being killed per year and up to 80 percentof herds were lost in some regions (Cobb & Western, 1989; Merz & Hoppe-Dominik, 1991;

Alers et al.1992; WWF, 1997 & 1998).

In response to the sharp decline in elephant numbers in Africa many countries imposed theirown legislation to stop the importation of raw ivory, and in 1989 the African elephant wasplaced on Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora). This move prevented international trade in ivory andother elephant products and was imposed in an attempt to cut off supply to the markets.

Although populations have stabilized in some parts of southern and eastern Africa, illegalkilling of elephants for ivory and meat is still apparent. Recent trade studies have shown thatthere are still thriving domestic ivory markets in many African elephant range states,

including Angola, Cte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria, as well as in states such as Egypt,Ethiopia, Senegal and Sudan that have few or no wild elephants (Martin & Stiles, 2000;Courouble et al., 2003; Martin, 2005; Martin & Milliken, 2005; Milliken et al., 2006). Much ofthe ivory in the domestic markets originates from central Africa, with key source countriesincluding Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC).

2.2.3 Habitat destruct ionHabitat destruction remains a major threat to the survival of elephant populations. In total,elephant range has declined from 7.3 million square kilometres in 1979 to 3.34 million square

kilometres today (Blanc et al., 2007). Of the remaining range, at least 80 percent falls outsideprotected areas (Stevenson, 2005).

African elephants have less room to live in than ever before. There is a continuing decline inthe extent and quality of their habitat as expanding human populations convert land foragriculture, settlement and development activities (Thouless, 1999). In the grassland andwoodland habitats of East and Southern Africa, traditional elephant refuges are becomingincreasingly isolated as rangeland is converted to agriculture.


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In forest habitats the conversion of habitat for plantations for bio-fuels is an increasingproblem. Extractive industries such as logging and mining also cause habitat destruction andimprove access to remote forests for hunters (Fay & Agnagna, 1991; Wilkie et al., 2001).Many forests in West and Central Africa are in decline (Sayer et al., 1992; Myers et al., 2000).

Land-use planning is seen as a long-term solution to the issue of habitat destruction.Creating or preserving habitat corridors linking core populations can alleviate habitatfragmentation (Harris, 1984). However, it is important to understand the ecologicalprocesses that influence the movement of species such as the elephant when designinghabitat corridors (Johnsingh & Williams, 1999). While potentially alleviating the effects ofhabitat destruction, land-use planning can be notoriously difficult to implement due tocomplex patterns of land tenure, access to resources, and the intractable problems associatedwith the relocation of communities.

2.2.4 Human-Elephant Confl ic tConflict between people and elephants today ranks among the main threats to elephant

conservation in Africa and represents a real challenge to local, national and regionalgovernments, wildlife managers, conservation and development agencies and localcommunities (Kangwana 1993). HEC has existed for a long time: elephants may have limitedthe development of agriculture in equatorial forests for centuries (Barnes, 1996) and damageto crops has been recorded in Africa from the beginning of the Twentieth Century (e.g.Schweitzer, 1922).

Increasing human populations and expanding agriculture have increased the potential forconflict between humans and elephants in many regions (Hoare, 1995). Elephants have beencompressed into ever-smaller areas and their traditional migration routes have been cut off(Kangwana, 1995). As a result, humans and elephants compete directly for land that is

becoming increasingly scarce (Thouless, 1994; Kiiru, 1995; Barnes, 1996).

Conflict takes many forms, from direct impacts such as the destruction of property, cropdamage and human death (Hoare, 1995), to indirect social costs such as the need to guardcrops at night, competition for resources, and restricted local movements due to elephantpresence (Parker, 2006). Conflict creates intense animosity between rural communities andthe wild animals that threaten their livelihoods (Naughton-Treves, 1997). Such negativeinteractions have the potential to undermine long-term biodiversity goals, as local peopleexpress their anger through encroachment on protected areas, poaching, and excessiveresource use (Mehta & Kellert, 1998).

To date, most problem elephant management has been applied in a very ad hoc manner(Taylor, 1999). Because there are no clear policies or plans for problem elephantmanagement, wildlife authorities do not usually have adequate financial and human resourcesto tackle HEC. The monitoring of problem elephants is largely limited to farmers reportingincidents to the wildlife authorities in the hope of eliciting some form of managementresponse. Although incident records are intended for onward submission to a centraliseddatabase, for many countries, this does not appear to be consistent.


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The issue of HEC is so significant that a working group has been established by theIUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group to consider the problem (Hoare, 1995).Currently it is believed that the best means of reducing HEC is through a range ofapproaches including community-based conflict mitigation, fencing, disturbance shooting,employing a variety of scaring and repelling tactics (Osborn & Parker, 2003). Such

interventions should ideally be implemented in conjunction with long-term solutions such asimplementing land-use plans that aim to separate agricultural activities and elephant range(Parker et al, 2007).

3.0 Rwanda

Rwanda is a small landlocked country of 26,388km2, bordering Tanzania, Uganda, DRC andBurundi. The terrain is mountainous and well irrigated by a network of rivers and lakes.Although located only two degrees south of the equator, Rwanda's high elevation makes theclimate temperate. The landscape is diverse, from closed forest in the west to savannawoodland and grassland in the east.

Rwandas human population exceeds 8 million, most of who live in the lower altitude rollinghills of central and eastern Rwanda. The majority of the population engages in small-scalefarming. The high population growth rate of over 3% per annum, in a country that is alreadydensely populated (317 people per km2), results in a tremendous pressure on the land and onthe environment.

3.1 Protected Areas in Rwanda

Protected areas were first established in Rwanda in 1918 by the colonial government, and by1933 all remnant montane forest was set aside as protected forest (Weber, 1987). Currently

Rwanda has approximately 7% of its land cover under protected areas (Fig. 1.). Theseinclude:

The Nyungwe Forest Reserve (NFR) (970km2) in the south west, which is the largestremaining lower montane forest in Africa;

The Volcanoes National Park (425km2) in the north, which harbours highlyendangered primates, including mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; and

The Akagera National Park (ANP) (1,081km2) in the east, which is a complex ofsavanna and wetland that provides habitat for a diverse fauna, including nearly 600species of birds.


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Figure 1: Protected areas of Rwanda (Source: Plumptre et al 2001)

Conservation in Rwanda has been heavily influenced by the socio-political landscape of thepast century. To fully appreciate the current situation it is important to recognize the keyevents of the last 100 years.

3.1.1 The colonial era late 19 th century to 1962)During the colonial era both German and Belgian administrations ruled indirectly through

the king and hill chiefs. Uncultivated lands were reallocated for agriculture, which resulted inthe expansion of cultivation onto marginal land traditionally used for rangeland, long fallowand forest. A rapid conversion of forests and wildlife range to pasture occurred through the1920s, and in response the Belgian authorities established all remnant forestlands includingAkagera and Nyungwe as reserves (Weber & Vedder, 1984). This legislation prohibitedclearing for agriculture but recognized community rights to collect dead wood and allowedcommercial exploitations of valuables hardwoods to Europeans settlers as well as controlledhunting outside these reserves. There were no mechanisms in place to monitor and regulate


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access to the forest and rangeland and they were used for a wide range of activities includinghoney collection, woodcutting, and hunting of animals, gold mining, and small-scaleagriculture .

3.1.2 The post- indepen dence per iod 1962-1991)The post-independence period witnessed a trend towards centralization of authority overland and forest resources by the governments. Conservation was not the priority in the yearsfollowing independence and agriculture policies aimed at increasing cash crop productionhad a direct impact on all the protected areas. Sections of Nyungwe were cleared for teaplantations (Weber, 1987) and the reserves were significantly reduced in size between 1958and 1979.

The ORTPN was established by decree in 1974 with the following responsibilities:promotion of tourism, protection of nature, scientific research and protection of sites andmonuments of historical, archeological and tourist importance and implementation ofbiodiversity conventions and agreements. In 1988 the Rwandan government adopted a new

forestry law (No. 47/1988) which defined the forest reserve as an area for the protection ofthe flora and fauna, in which no cutting is permitted except in the interest of protectedplants. Hunting, fishing, collecting animals, plants or minerals were all prohibited. Scientificstudies were allowed only by ministerial permit. ORTPN was given the mandate to enforceconservation regulations in the forest, including illegal mining, hunting and clearing. TodayORTPN is responsible for the management of national parks, special reserves and huntingreserves. Forest guards have the power to arrest, search and issue penalties.

In the 1980s a number of international NGOs formed partnerships with ORTPN. TheWildlife Conservation Society is a US-based NGO which saves wildlife and wild landsthrough careful science, international conservation and education. Since 1988, both WCS

and ORTPN have actively engaged in law enforcement, conservation education, ecotourism,professional training, and scientific research (www.wcs.org).

3.1.3 War and post-war per iod 1991-present)The last decade and a half of conservation in Rwanda was largely influenced by the war andits consequences are still being felt at the national level. War affected conservation withinRwanda in various ways: first conservation institutions were unable to enforce regulations.Second, the internationally funded projects in and around the protected areas weresuspended and never resumed after the genocide due to the prevailing political andeconomic instability. Third, the post-war government priorities were rehabilitation and

resettlement rather than conservation. Development agencies returned to Rwanda butdrastically revised their priorities in the light of post-war needs. For at least 2-3 years almostall assistance was focused on humanitarian relief and little funding went to conservationprograms (Masozera, 2002).

In summary, Rwanda has an impressive array of protected areas which are fully protected bylaw. However, the recent war in Rwanda has limited the resources and expertise and hasreduced investment in the Protected Area (PA) infrastructure. Consequently until recently


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there has been little enforcement and limited research activity ongoing within the protectedareas.

3.2 Akagera National Park

The Akagera Region is situated in the northeast of Rwanda between 100 205S and3025 3050E (Figure 2). The Akagera National Park (ANP) was founded in 1934 and

originally covered an area of 2,500 km2. In 1957, the contiguous Mutara Hunting Domain

was added (Williams & Ntayombya, 1999), bringing the total area to 2,840 km2.

The ANP has been greatly affected by war over the last 15 years. During the war ANP wasoccupied by soldiers and the wildlife populations were decimated. Following the genocide of1994 and the subsequent return of refugees from bordering countries, the resettlement ofreturning farmers became a national priority. In 1997 two thirds of ANP was degazetted forthis purpose and the Park was reduced to one-third of its pre-war size, a total of 1,081 km2.

ANP forms part of the Akagera - Lake Mburo ecosystem that includes Ugandas KikagatiGame Reserve, Lake Mburo National Park and the rangeland areas northwards to theKatonga River. To the east, this ecosystem extends across the Akagera River and intoTanzanias Ibanda and Rumanyika Game Reserves. Corridors of relatively unsettled woodand bush land link these areas to the Biharamulo and Burigi Game Reserves farther south.ANP also forms a part of the Lake Victoria regional mosaic of habitats spanning theescarpment and flood plains of the eastern part of Rwanda bordering Tanzania and justtouching Uganda. In terms of natural beauty, landscape, scenery and animal life, the ANPwas once regarded as one of the best national parks in Africa. Today the Akagera - LakeMburo ecosystem is entirely fragmented and its wildlife populations are now found only insmall, disturbed enclaves.

ANP has been occupied by people since the Neolithic period (Birdlife, 2006). Thetopography of the park is characterized by rolling sandstone hills in the west, cut in places bydeep, narrow valleys. The highest point in the park is Mount Mutumba (1,825 m). In theeast, flood-plains and swamps predominate. The extensive lakes and swamps of Akagerariver valley cover an area of c.100,000 ha. The vegetation of the park is extremely varied and,indeed, has been described as the most heterogeneous savannah ecosystem in the region(Birdlife, 2006).

Open savannas are dominated by three typical grasses, Themeda triandra, Hyparrhenia filipendulaand Cymbopogon afronardus. In woodland areas Acacia spp. and Combretum spp. predominate,but more than 250 tree species occur within the park. The relatively steep hills of central and

southern ANP support a denser tree- and bush-cover. Towards the lake borders to the east,the savannah becomes more heavily wooded, with gallery forest occurring along lake edges.Gallery forest species includeAlbizia spp.,Acacia polyacanthaand some Ficus spp. Flood-plainand marsh vegetation occur in the river valley, with marshes dominated by Cyperus papyrus,Cladium andMiscanthidium(Birdlife, 2006).


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Figure 2: Akagera National Park (Source: Parker 2006)

4.0 Elephants in Rwanda

Rwandas elephant population is small and fragmented while its human population is denseand widely distributed. Historically, elephants occurred at low densities throughout Rwandaalbeit in small fragmented patches. In 1950 the territory of Ruanda-Urundi (the Rwanda andBurundi of today) was estimated to have some 800 elephants (Blanc et al.,2002). By 1973there may have been roughly 300 elephants remaining (Blanc et al.,2002), half of which werefound in unforested areas. As human populations grew, HEC reached such a high level that,in 1975, the Rwandese Government commissioned professional hunters and trappers to


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eliminate all adult elephants and unweaned calves in high profile conflict areas and totranslocate as many of the remaining juveniles as possible to the southern sector of theANP. A total of 126 animals were shot and 30 captured. Of the latter, 26 were translocatedto ANP (Haigh et al.,1979; Blanc et al.,2002).

Through much of the 1990s, the presence of soldiers, armed rebels and refugees in andaround protected areas posed an intermittent threat to elephants and other wildlife. In 1990Rwanda recognized three elephant populations, distributed between Akagera (about 40) andNyungwe Forest (about 10), while those in the Parc National des Volcans were notpermanent residents (Blanc et al.,2002). Elephants had not been seen in the Parc Nationaldes Volcans since the early 1990s but the area has been categorized as known range based onrecent sightings in the vicinity of the park. At this time no elephants are believed to remainin the Nyungwe Forest Reserve (Blanc et al.,2002).

4.1 Elephants in Akagera National Park

Elephants in the ANP disappeared in the early 1960s, probably as a result of human

activities. They were last sighted in 1961 near Lake Mihindi and the swamps of Akagera. In1975, the government of Rwanda translocated 22 young elephants to the ANP fromBugesera in the south east of Rwanda. In 1986 the population within the Park was estimatedto have grown to 30 elephants.

Little was known about elephants during the post-war period. Consequently, an elephantmonitoring project was established in 2006 through the joint WCS/ORTPN elephantproject Conservation of Elephants in the Akagera National Park. The projects objectivewas to determine the current population size and distribution of elephants within ANP andto establish survey and monitoring methods for the future (Parker, 2006). The projectestablished a comprehensive elephant monitoring programme using stratified dung surveys

designed according to MIKE protocols (Hedges, 2005). ORTPN staff at ANP was trained indung survey methodology and the first full survey was undertaken in July 2006 (Parker,2006).

4.1.1 Elephant population s izeIt has been speculated that two groups of elephants totalling 60 individuals currently exist inANP (Masozera, 2005). Blanc et al.,(2007) estimate the current ANP elephant population tobe 34. The dung survey carried out in July 2006 estimated the population to be 28, with alower confidence limit of 17 and an upper confidence limit of 45 (Parker, 2006). However,this estimate applied only to the central lakeside area of the park, as the eastern highland

section of the park contained too little dung to generate an accurate estimate, and thewestern swamp section of the park was inaccessible to ground teams. It is therefore likelythat the total elephant population size is greater than this figure. However, this surveyrepresents the first formal survey of ANP in recent times and it establishes a baseline forfuture surveys (Parker, 2006).


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4.1.2 Elephant dis tr ibutionElephant density is greatest within the central lakeside region of the ANP and appears to belowest in the eastern highland region. The density of elephants within the swamp region iscurrently unknown (Parker, 2006). Elephant distribution in the ANP appears to be

determined by water availability, as is common in seasonal habitats (Afolayan & Ayaji, 1980;Western & Lindsay, 1984). The lack of elephants in the ANPs highlands during the dryseason most probably reflects the scarcity of permanent water sources (Parker, 2006). Thevegetation at the lake shore is wooded and more diverse as compared to the highlandsavanna and this may further explain the elephants higher density at the lakeside. Thewoodland may additionally provide shade during the heat of the day, another importantresource in hot climates. In addition, slope may play a role in the elephant distribution:elephants are heavy mammals and while they are clearly able to traverse the hills of thehighlands (P. Buda,pers. comm.), they may choose to remain in the flatter lakeside habitats. Inother ecosystems elephants have been observed to avoid slopes(Smith & Kasiki, 2000).

4.1.3 Population dynamicsThere is currently very little information regarding elephant age and sex ratios within ANP.The poaching of ivory in the 1970s and 1980s considerably affected the structure of elephantpopulation in Rwanda and ANP in particular. Poachers concentrated on the male elephants,which led to substantial change in the sex ratio. The political upheavals of the late 1990s didnot help matters as soldiers and unscrupulous foreigners took advantage of theadministrative breakdown and exploited the elephant population.

It is not yet clear whether the reproductive capacity of the elephant populations has beenaffected by the population decline. Following severe poaching it is possible that an elephantpopulation may increase rapidly as has been observed in Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania

(Baldus, 2005). In good conditions elephant populations can grow by 7 percent per year.However, the opposite may also be true as elephants have a high sensitivity to habitat andclimate change. Elephants have a gestation period of 22 months and come into oestrus onceper year. With the decline in the male population, breeding opportunities are often missed.Under poor conditions, the growth rate may be reduced to 2% per year.

4.2 The value of elephants

Elephants in ANP play a very important ecological role, particularly in maintaining thediversity of fauna and flora and in regenerating their forest environments. They exert aprofound impact on their environment as they push over trees creating clearings and

grasslands, dig for salt and disseminate seeds for many plants, creating a patchwork of foresttypes and habitat that benefits many other species. Such activities influence the age andstructure of flora and fauna within their habitats.

Elephants are a highly visible component of the ANPs faunal assemblage, serving to attracttourists and provide revenue for park management. The economic value of elephant tourismand elephant products is highly significant (Brown, 1989; Barnes, 1996). Elephants have thepotential to generate major financial returns to the ANP and to surrounding communities,and by so doing contribute to maintaining and improving PAs in the region.


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4.3 Threats to elephants within Akagera National Park

The threats facing elephants within ANP were identified during a workshop on elephantmanagement held in Kigali in December 2006. In many ways these threats reflect thoseidentified at a continental level. Five principal threats were identified as follows: a lack of

national legislation concerning elephant management; a lack of institutional capacity withinORTPN; a lack of information on ANPs elephant population; human disturbance withinelephant habitats; and conflict with communities outside the ANP.

4.3 .1 Lack o f l e g i s la t ionAttendees of the 2006 elephant workshop in Kigali identified a lack of legislation as a severelimitation to elephant conservation. Currently the Rwandese Wildlife Act is not finalised andthe conservation policy is not implemented. In addition, there is no coordination withbordering countries, e.g. Tanzania, where elephants from ANP may seasonally migrate.

4.3.2 Lack of inst i tutio nal capacityInstitutional weaknesses identified within the ORTPN included a lack of capacity for wildlifeconservation and management. The ANP has a limited budget: the main funding forORTPN comes from tourism which is highly susceptible to fluctuations, and ANP itself issubsidised by tourism revenues from other National Parks within Rwanda. The financialsituation at ANP restricts the investment in manpower, vehicles and training. Consequentlythere are insufficient guards to conduct patrols, and there are no specialised teams toconduct elephant monitoring and community conservation. Elephant management skillsneed to be developed within ANP and should be made available not only to the parkmanagement authorities but also to communities at the edge of ANP upon whom theelephants survival will increasingly depend.

Many if not most PAs across Africa face a funding crisis, both in terms of the amount offunds available and how those are used. There is an urgent need to expand and diversify PAfinancial portfolios, and to ensure that funding reaches the groups and activities essential forbiodiversity conservation (Emerton et al, 2005). A diverse range of financing options areavailable to PAs such as ANP, including payments for carbon and ecosystem services, a widerange of corporate and private donors and tax revenues. A sustainable finance strategyshould be developed for ANP which explores these new revenue sources.

4.3.3 Lack of informati on for e lephant management

In the last decade a number of studies have investigated land degradation, wildlife ecologyand distributions in the ANP. Although these studies have documented decreases in wildlifepopulations due to the reduction in park size following the war, no studies have specificallyexamined the impacts upon threatened species such as elephants.

There is currently little information available on the elephants of the ANP, effectivelyhindering conservation efforts.Park management requires ecological information in order toprotect the elephant population and develop management and conservation action plans.While there is now a monitoring programme for elephant numbers and distributions there is


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still no research into social behaviour, population dynamics, migration patterns, habitat useand genetics.

4.3.4 Human disturbance

Human disturbance encompasses both habitat destruction and illegal hunting. ANP suffershabitat degradation as a result of high human population density at its borders. From patroldata it is evident communities cut trees and graze their cattle within the Park boundaries, andalso are responsible for bush fires. Other activities include bee keeping, hunting and cattlegrazing (Parker, 2006). Fragmentation and habitat loss are more widespread in the savannahparts of the park although the wetlands and the forested areas are also showing signs ofdisturbance.

Elephants once moved between Akagera, Ibanda, Burigi and Biharamulo in Tanzania, buttheir movement has been restricted by refugee settlement on the Tanzanian side (Blanc et al.,2007). Such habitat fragmentation has reduced genetic flow between wildlife populations. Aresearch project has been proposed which will study elephant movements as well as human

and elephant induced habitat destruction. This will help identify future corridor areas fornatural dispersal and will provide ecological information for land-use planning.

There have been 2 recorded cases of illegal elephant hunting: one for bush meat and one forivory poaching. While this is negligible on a regional scale, ANPs population is small andextremely vulnerable. There are also concerns that illegal hunting occurs in borderingcountries and that poor enforcement in Tanzania and Burundi may threaten ANPselephants once they cross the borders.

4.3.5 Human-Elephant Confl ic tFrom the late 1990s the incidence of HEC has negatively influenced the perceptions ofelephant conservation, especially amongst rural communities at the Parks boundary.Elephants cause many problems for people, including eating and trampling crops, raidingfood stores and damaging village infrastructure and water sources. Elephant presence in oraround human settlements also disrupts community life, making transit along roads difficultor preventing children from attending school. In isolated cases where there is directconfrontation, elephants occasionally injure or kill people. However, there have been fewpublished works on HEC around the Akagera as incidents go largely unreported exceptwhere human life has been threatened.

Communities bear the costs of living with elephants but as yet receive no direct benefits.

ORTPN is currently looking into mechanisms for benefit sharing with communities atANPs boundary. Such economic incentives will be key to increasing tolerance andimproving human-elephant relations, as evidenced by projects in Uganda (Archabald &Naughton-Treves, 2001) and elsewhere.


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5.0 A Strategy for Elephant Management

This strategy has been produced from the outputs of a workshop held in Kigali in December2006. Participants included a wide spectrum of national stakeholders with an interest in theANP elephant population, including community leaders, NGOs, safari and tourism

associations and Government departments. The workshop was organised by theWCS/ORTPN elephant project and was designed to identify key issues leading to thedevelopment of an elephant strategy for ANP. Issues and objectives for elephantmanagement were identified through a combination of focus group exercises and facilitateddiscussions.

At the core of the workshop was a SWOT analysis in which the strengths, weaknesses,opportunities and threats to elephant conservation were identified. From this output theauthors identified six key considerations which must be addressed in order to improveelephant conservation within and around ANP. For each consideration a conservationobjective is defined. Each objective has a clearly stated rationale, and targets which definethe desired outputs. A series of pragmatic activities have been identified as a means ofachieving each of the conservation objectives. Thus, activities address objectives, which inturn address considerations. The strategy is designed to be implemented immediately andover the next five years, with a comprehensive review at the end of 2012. The results ofmanagement will be evaluated every 12 months and management activities will be adjustedaccordingly.

5.1 Principles

In implementing this strategy the following principles should be applied:

Management should be precautionary. If there is a possibility of a problem arising,

and even though the system may be poorly understood, it is better to carry out amanagement activity than risk the consequences of a worsening problem.

In selecting management options, it is better to select the one that presents the leastrisk (minimum regret) should the action prove to be inappropriate.

Management activities should be process-based and adaptive. They should bedesigned so that they can be continually adjusted in response to the results ofprevious activities. Such activities should be incorporated into a strategy that involvescontinuous monitoring and evaluation of their effects.

Management should be feasible, practical, economic and ethically acceptable.

5.2 Key considerations

The following key considerations are addressed by this strategy:

1. The need to strengthen current wildlife policy to address elephant conservation andwildlife conflict issues.


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2. The need to improve ORTPNs capacity to conserve elephants.3. A requirement for information on the elephant population, ecology and habitat use.4. A reduction in the impact of human-elephant conflict upon communities.5. The reduction of human-induced threats to elephant populations and their habitats.6. The need to engender support for elephant conservation among local communities.

5.3 Specific objectives

The following specific objectives have been developed to address the above keyconsiderations. For each objective the rationale is described, the targets are defined and aseries of pragmatic activities are identified.

Rationale

A lack of legislation relating to the conservation of elephants was identified by workshopstakeholders. Comprehensive legislation is a pre-requisite for conservation action and isessential for the implementation of this elephant management strategy. It is important towork towards harmonization of legislative and regulatory frameworks, first within the ANP,then within Rwanda, and finally with the countries sharing the same elephant range in orderto provide a consistent level of legal protection for elephants and their habitats. Legislationshould encompass key elephant management issues such as illegal hunting, HEC andcommunity-based conservation in order to enable a range of management interventions.

Target

! A comprehensive and effective legislation that creates an enabling environment forelephant conservation in the ANP by 2012.Specific activities

! Develop and implement a national elephant conservation strategy.! Amend the Wildlife Act to include specific policies on community-based

conservation and human-wildlife conflict.! Develop policy enabling the distribution of revenues from ANP to local

communities.! Maintain commitment to the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE).!

Cooperate with neighbouring countries, especially Tanzania and Uganda indeveloping a coordinated wildlife policy relating to cross boarder law enforcement.! Review current international environmental conventions and ratify relevant

conventions to create enabling environment for elephant conservation, including theRamsar Convention on Wetlands; the Lusaka Agreement which provides for cross-border cooperation on illegal trade; and the Convention on Migratory Wild AnimalSpecies.

Objective 1. The development of policies and legislation that create an enablingenvironment for elephant conservation in the ANP.


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Rationale

ANPs institutional weakness stems from a lack of financial resources. Key to thestrengthening of capacity is the development of a robust funding strategy. A range ofinnovative PA financing mechanisms are increasingly used across Africa, including raisingfunds from new markets (carbon offsets or payments for ecosystem services), finding newdonors (large corporations, philanthropists, tax revenue sharing), sharing costs and benefitswith local stakeholders (private landholders and local communities), employing new financialtools (business planning), improving wider policy and market conditions (reformingenvironmentally harmful subsidies and creating positive incentives), and devolving fundingand management responsibilities to NGOs, local communities, individuals or businesses(Emerton et al, 2005). These avenues should be explored and an innovative funding strategy

developed. In terms of human resources, ORTPN requires sufficient skilled and well-equipped staff to carry out conservation activities. Areas of weakness identified bystakeholders included an insufficient number of field staff for patrols and monitoring, a lackof staff and resources for community conservation, a lack of a specific team working onelephant conservation and insufficient technical capacity of ORTPN staff. There have beenimprovements to both institutional and technical capacity within the ORTPN over the pastdecade through training and capacity building. However, there is still a serious need fortechnical training and this process should be ongoing.

Targets

! Revenues for conservation activities increased through a diverse funding strategy.! Number of trained staff increased within ANP.! Dedicated elephant and community conservation teams established.

Specific activities

! Develop a strategy for increasing conservation funding, exploring the followingoptions:

o Carbon offsets and ecosystem serviceso New donors and tax revenue sharingo Cost and benefit sharing with local shareholderso Devolution of funding and management responsibility.o Investment in tourism marketing to increase tourism revenues.o Funding for specific conservation activities sourced from external donors.

! Increase number of trained rangers to carry out patrol and monitoring activities.! Increase community conservation departments resources to enable greater

interaction with communities.! Establish elephant team and train members in elephant monitoring techniques,

including dung surveys.

Objective 2. The strengthening of the institutional and human capacity ofORTPN to enable effective elephant conservation.


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! Train technical staff in data storage, analysis and interpretation, including Distanceanalysis.

! Increase number of vehicles available for wildlife monitoring and patrols.

Rationale

A baseline of ecological information is fundamental to the effective management of anywildlife species. The lack of information on the ANP elephant population is a severelimitation to elephant conservation. It is important for research to provide information foreffective management and research topics should be selected to address key questions andprovide information that is currently lacking. The following areas are considered particularlyimportant: monitoring elephant population size, distribution and habitat use, social

behaviour and migration patterns. The process of elephant population monitoringcommenced in 2006 with the establishment of dung surveys to determine population sizeand distribution (Parker, 2006). However, this is just one element of a range of researchissues identified. A comprehensive programme of research should be developed by theORTNP in partnership with international conservation organisations.

Targets

! Number, distribution and movement patterns of elephants monitored annually.! Anti-poaching incidents and responses monitored and analysed monthly.! Advanced research programme initiated.

Specific activities

! Establish a scientific steering committee to oversee all research activities.! Identify and prioritise research activities.! Determine activities to be carried out by ORTPN and identify training requirements,

including:o Dung surveys every year across ANP using established MIKE methodologyo Distance analysis to produce elephant population estimates with confidence

intervals every 2 years.o Aerial survey of swamps in conjunction with dung surveys to produce a

minimum count of elephants.o Radio-collaring of a small (3-4) sample of elephants within ANP in order to

establish habitat use, seasonal movements and transboundary movements.o Mapping and monitoring habitats in which elephants are thought to have

impact on vegetation using fixed point photography and tree survey plots.! Develop TORs for advanced research topics, including behavioural studies, habitat

use, population dynamics and genetics. Tender to conservation NGOs.! Establish a 6-monthly review of elephant monitoring and research activities.

Objective 3. The development of a comprehensive portfolio of elephant researchand monitoring which addresses questions fundamental to elephant management.


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Rationale

The impact of elephants on the livelihoods of people living within elephant range can besevere. Elephants may damage or destroy crops, water supplies, grain stores, fences andpeople are sometimes injured or killed in defence of their property. Conflict creates angertowards elephants which undermines support for elephant conservation, and has lead tofarmers killing elephants or turning a blind eye to poaching in retaliation for the damage theyhave caused. The nature of conflict and its impact upon people must be understood in orderto develop an effective mitigation strategy. Reducing the impact of conflict upon thecommunities surrounding ANP is essential and mitigation measures must be put in place.Equally, community tolerance to conflict may be increased by offsetting costs with someform of wildlife benefits. Empowerment of communities to carry out control measures isalso believed to increase both tolerance and the effectiveness of measures. Effective land-use

planning may provide a long-term reduction of conflict. Agricultural improvement is alsoimportant appropriate crops can reduce the vulnerability of farmers to elephant conflict(Parker et al, 2007).

Targets

! HEC monitoring network established.! Comprehensive and diverse HEC mitigation strategy implemented.

Specific activities

Establish a dedicated HEC committee to oversee the development of a conflictmitigation strategy.

Implement a comprehensive conflict reporting programme using the protocol of theAfESG (Parker et al.,2007).

Identify the economic and wider impacts of conflict upon local communities. Establish an HEC database, analyse data monthly and feed back information to HEC

management. Conduct a complete review of appropriate HEC mitigation methods used across

Africa. Establish pilot projects of appropriate HEC mitigation methods in communities

worst affected by conflict. Replicate successful pilot projects and train wildlife management authorities and

community members in conflict mitigation techniques. Develop and implement land use plans with stakeholders to conserve buffer zones

and corridors and to separate wildlife from agriculture. Establish pilot projects that use appropriate and sustainable agricultural practices in

elephant range in order to reduce farmer vulnerability to conflict.

Objective 4. The mitigation of human-elephant conflict in communities borderingANP.


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Rationale

Human disturbance has been identified as a major threat to elephant conservation in ANP,including both habitat destruction and illegal hunting. Much habitat destruction stems fromillegal activity in the park, including tree cutting and cattle grazing. Such activities will only becurbed through effective law enforcement but until recently there has not been an adequatesystem to ensure patrols cover the entire park. In addition, it must be recognised thatcommunities require access to natural resources and this may be addressed through acombination of land-use planning, grazing management and creating alternative supplies,such as community woodlots (Barnes et al., 1995). The laws governing access to resourcesshould also be reviewed in light of community resource needs. Suitable elephant habitat mayextend outside the ANP and if elephant migration patterns are identified, these should beincorporated into the land-use plan. Illegal hunting remains a rare occurrence but this too

threatens the elephant population and must be tackled through effective enforcement.

Target

! Illegal human activities reduced within ANP.! Improved access to natural resources for communities.! Connectivity between elephant habitat maintained.

Specific activities

! Ensure total patrol coverage of ANP using the patrol sector system initiated in 2006.! Use patrol information to identify areas of high illegal activity.! Determine which natural resources are in demand in communities bordering ANP

and consider alternatives, for example:o establishing alternative grazing through cooperative grazing management;o improving grazing quality through holistic grazing management;o establishing alternative fuel wood through community woodlots and

charcoal; and,o trialling fuel efficient stoves for domestic use to reduce the demand for

wood.! Identify elephant habitat use and migrations outside ANP through planned GPS

collaring of 3-4 elephants, supported by the observations of game scouts and local

communities.! Incorporate corridors and habitat into land-use plan for ANP and the widerlandscape.

Objective 5. The reduction of human disturbance upon elephant habitat


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Rationale

It is increasingly recognised that community support is essential to the success of wildlifeconservation, both inside and outside protected areas. Community support can be fosteredthrough the participation of local communities in wildlife management issues, through theprovision of benefits derived from wildlife and through raising awareness of the widerbenefits of resources. Incorporating local stakeholders as partners in planning andimplementation of strategic elephant conservation can help to engender support beyondprotected area boundaries particularly if there are economic incentives and direct benefits forparticipation. Quite clearly, if elephants do have a value to the community there will be anincentive to tolerate their presence and conserve them, as has been demonstrated through

the work of community based conservation programmes across Africa.

Target

! Awareness of elephant conservation issues and potential benefits increased amongcommunities.

! Benefit sharing schemes initiated with select communities.! Attitudes towards elephant conservation improved among communities at ANP

boundary.

Specific activities

Promote community outreach to raise awareness of the purpose of ANP, thevarious values of elephants (economic value, ecological importance andtraditional beliefs) and the potential benefits to communities.

Work with community organizations to disseminate information about relevantwildlife legislation to the wider public.

Conduct a regional (East African) review of community-based conservationprogrammes providing benefits for local people.

Establish a mechanism for returning a proportion of revenues from elephants tocommunities. Consult with communities on desired benefits.

Promote community based business ventures deriving income from non-consumptive use of elephants (e.g. ecotourism).

Monitor community views and opinions (in target groups) on elephantmanagement and conservation in order to evaluate the impacts of the currentand future activities.

Objective 6. The engagement of local communities in elephant conservation


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6.0 Conclusions

It is apparent that the successful management of elephants in the Akagera National Park willcontribute significantly to the conservation of East African elephants. However, a series ofissues must be addressed in order to improve elephant conservation within ANP. This

document identifies six key considerations for the improvement of elephant conservationand presents clear objectives and activities through which the management of ANPselephants will be strengthened.

At a national level there is not adequate legislation within the Wildlife Act to enable effectiveconservation action. This is something that must be addressed at Ministerial level as a matterof urgency.

ORTPNs capacity for elephant management is limited by low funding, a lack of specificexpertise and an overall shortage of manpower. A plan for increasing funding both throughPark revenues and through a diverse range of external sources must be put in place. Stafftraining is ongoing, but a dedicated elephant management team should be established assoon as is possible.

Currently there is little ecological information regarding the elephant population. The statusof the population must be rapidly established. A monitoring programme has been initiated,but this must be built upon with a programme of comprehensive research in partnershipwith international NGOs.

Disturbance from the human population surrounding the park and in neighbouring landpresents a severe threat and stems from a local requirement for natural resources from thepark. Alternative resources such as fuel wood and grazing must be made available tocommunities, either through careful management of existing resources or through the

establishment of new sources. In tandem with this, enforcement must be improved byincreasing personnel and patrol coverage.

Local attitudes towards elephants and conservation in general appear hostile. The underlyingissues must be addressed in order to gain local support provisions should be made foralternative fuel wood and grazing, while a programme of conflict mitigation and appropriateagriculture should aim to reduce the impact of elephants upon communities. In addition, acommunity benefit-sharing scheme should be initiated with the aims of providing tangibleand appropriate benefits to those communities at the boundary of ANP. A programme ofcommunity awareness should also be established, which highlights the benefits of the ANPand its elephants while being sensitive to the problems that communities face.

In order to implement this conservation strategy, the ORTPN has recognised the need towork with other elephant range state governments and their relevant natural resourcemanagement authorities. It will also need to work with other stakeholders in elephantconservation particularly local communities living side by side with elephants, national andinternational NGOs, research institutions and key elements of the private sector (especiallytourism). ORTPN has identified the need to carry out capacity building in order to empower


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its staff to manage their own elephant populations for broader biodiversity conservation andsustainable development needs.

In writing this Elephant Management Strategy many people and organizations wereconsulted and their views were taken into account. It is hoped that the adoption of thisstrategy will enable a more sustainable future for the elephants of ANP, and will provide aframework for the development of a national elephant strategy for Rwanda.


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Annex 1: Institutions involved in conservation in Rwanda

Institutions in conservation (An extract from Michel Masozera, 2002)In Rwanda, conservation is a crosscutting theme; numerous government, non-government agenciesand bilateral and multilateral agencies are involved in various ways in protected area management.

However, the fragmentations and overlap of agency authorities have resulted in conflicts andobstruction between agencies.

Government Institutions

The following government institutions are involved in protected area management:

Ministry of Land, Human Settlement and Environmental Protection

(MINITERE)This ministry has the mandate to formulate and monitor implementation of plans that aim atpreservation and protection of natural resources such as wildlife and fauna and to ensure thatdevelopmental activities are undertaken in a manner that protects the national environment. Thisministry is the implementing agency of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MINICOM)This ministry has the mandate to oversee the management of national tourist sites, including gameparks. It also has the mandate to develop, initiate and administer programs to enhance balanced andsustainable growth of domestic industry including agro-industry, cottage industries, mining, industryand tourism.

Ministry of Energy, Water and Natural Resources (MINIRENA)This ministry has the mandate to formulate policies and strategies aimed at achieving appropriatemanagement and utilisation of national resources including water.

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Forestry (MINAGRI)

This Ministry has the mandate to develop and manage ecologically suitable national forestry resourceplans that are integrated with other farming activities in the nation.

Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC)This Ministry has the mandate to develop policies on government decentralization. Attempts todecentralize decision-making within the government have been taking place over the past year. Withthis move local government agencies and the local communities are likely to have greater participationin government decision-making process and activities, including those decisions affecting protectedarea management.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINIPLAN)

This Ministry is responsible for the development of national and sectoral development plans andprogrammes. Also, it develops, oversees, and coordinates programmes of external cooperation andsupport.

Office Rwandais du Tourisme et Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN)

The ORTPN was established by decree in 1974 with the following responsibilities: promotion of

tourism, protection of nature, scientific research and protection of sites and monuments of historical,archeological and tourist importance and implementation of biodiversity conventions and agreements.

Although a wide range of Ministries are related either directly or indirectly to protected areasmanagement, it is the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism that is more responsible because itoversees major tourist sites and national parks and protected areas are major tourist centers in Rwanda.

There are however, many international organizations involved in the conservation and management ofprotected areas in Rwanda. These play a major role in policy advocacy, research, institutional support

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Documents

Akagera NP Elephant Management Strategy_2008