African Wildlife Foundation’s Post

On this #WorldElephantDay, we are reminded of our responsibility to protect these incredible animals. Safeguarding elephants means preserving biodiversity, securing ecosystems, and ensuring that future generations can witness their grandeur in the wild. The African Wildlife Foundation will continue to focus on elephant conservation as an urgent priority to mitigate increasing threats from #habitatloss, #poaching, and #humanwildlifeconflict. Are you ready to learn more about these spectacular species? Start by testing your knowledge with our simple quiz.

The Global Landscapes Forum 2024, hosted by CIFOR-ICRAF, provided a platform for AWF’s Simangele Msweli-Ratsoana to highlight the critical role of African youth in implementing and leading landscape solutions to tackle the crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation; at all levels. In her insightful address at the opening plenary, Simangele Msweli-Ratsoana championed a call to action: "Tackling biodiversity loss and the climate crisis demands a whole-of-society approach. With African youth constituting 70% of the continent’s population, our success hinges on meaningfully engaging and empowering this majority to take action for a sustainable future.”In her concluding remarks, she emphasized the need for deliberate and strategic support for youth engagement presently and into the future. This includes Inspiring #youth who are not taking action, Investing in enhancing the capacity of those who are already taking action, Providing financial support for youth-led projects, Strengthening existing youth networks, and Synthesizing the work of youth networks, especially in the Rio Conventions. The African Wildlife Foundation actively implements all of these initiatives through various projects. Youth are not merely participants but essential catalysts for a #sustainablefuture. There is a need to support youth-led action and integrate them into the broader existing interventions. We are grateful for platforms such as #GLFAfrica that are committed to amplifying youth voices and fostering their crucial role in driving environmental solutions.#GLFAfrica2024 Frederick Kumah, Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya, Peter A Minang, CIFOR-ICRAF #Africanleadership #AfricanConservation

The Maasai #Giraffe, one of Africa’s most iconic species, finds a vital sanctuary in the Tsavo–Mkomazi transboundary landscape, stretching across 49,000 square kilometers of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. This vast region, just 250 kilometers south of Nairobi, is home to 31% of Kenya’s Maasai giraffe population, with many of these majestic animals living outside protected areas. As critical browsers, #Maasai giraffes play an essential role in maintaining the ecosystem by feeding on various tree species. Their unique browsing behavior promotes new plant growth, providing crucial forage for other herbivores. 🌿 However, Maasai giraffes face increasing threats. Over the past 30 years, African giraffe populations have declined by 40%, largely due to poaching, habitat fragmentation, and human encroachment. In the Tsavo–Mkomazi landscape, research led by AWF’s Dr. Philip Muruthi, Amos Chege Muthiuru, and partners, published in Écosphère, is shedding new light on the giraffes’ habitat needs. Combining remote sensing data with ground surveys, the study identifies key habitats, migration corridors, and dispersal areas vital for survival. Read more about this study here >> https://li.awf.org/p2q #Africanleadership #Africanconservation

Something remarkable is unfolding in the lush Campo Ma'an region of Southern Cameroon. Francine Abessolo, a mother of three from the Ma’an community, has seen her life transform with the recent surge in global cocoa prices. But beyond the cocoa trees, her story reflects the broader impact of the African Wildlife Foundation's work in protecting the rich biodiversity of Campo Ma’an National Park. Campo Ma’an National Park is home to some of the world's most endangered species—western lowland gorillas, central chimpanzees, forest elephants, and more. Yet, this biodiversity haven faces constant threats from poaching, illegal trade, and logging. Our interventions are changing this narrative. By promoting alternative livelihoods, supporting #sustainableresource management, and equipping eco-guards with essential tools, we empower communities like Francine’s to thrive, all while protecting #nature. This is a story of how #conservation and community come together to create a lasting impact. Read more about it here>> https://li.awf.org/8jv Facheux T. Charly - MSc, Norbert SONNE, Author, Nfor Manda Lum, Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya, #Africanleadership #Africanconservation