Abstract:
Protected areas have been gazetted to protect natural resources and biodiversity,
but evaluations of effectiveness rarely include measures of species population
change. We compiled annual site-level spending and elephant population data
for 102 protected areas conserving either savannah (Loxodonta africana) or forest (Loxodonta cyclotis) elephants, which showed a median annual population
decline of −0.78% across the protected areas. Site-level population change was
strongly associated with funding and government effectiveness. Annual funding
deficits occurred in 78% of the protected areas, and when comparing necessary
levels of annual spend to stabilize elephant populations, we estimate a US$1.5
billion annual funding deficit across all the protected areas. While financial
investment can improve elephant conservation outcomes, there is still a need to
identify where and how to best finance elephant poaching interventions, requiring a global commitment to improve the socioeconomic impacts of protected
areas on local communities and reduce ivory demand.
Description:
DATA AVAILABITY STATEMENT: The African Elephant Database (https://
africanelephantdatabase.org/) contains the latest elephant population data for each protected area. Data on
spend at sites are sensitive and the authors relied on
personal contacts to obtain this information for many of
the protected areas. We can provide these data on request
but cannot make them widely available.
