Please consult the  Press Release under:  Conservation-Organizations-Brazzaville Declaration - ENGLISH.pdf (1.3 MiB)

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo 26 April 2013 -  The elephants of Central Africa are dying. A recent study shows forest elephant populations in the Congo Basin fell by almost two-thirds - or 62% - over the past decade as a result of extensive ivory poaching. Without action, it is likely that the elephant, the largest land mammal on earth, will follow in the footsteps of the rhinoceroses in Central Africa, which have been hunted to extinction for their horns.

This wildlife crime has a destabilizing effect on the governance of countries in the sub-region. Rampant poaching and illegal wildlife trade nurtures international criminality and undermines the economic and social prospects of Central African states. It is in the economic interest of these countries to vigorously combat this scourge.

Therefore, we, who represent many of the largest conservation organizations active in the Congo Basin, are convened here to propose effective solutions to this poaching crisis. The states of the sub-region must implement these solutions in order to save their elephants, which they themselves have qualified as a universal natural heritage of humanity.

To save this natural heritage, it is imperative, and in the shortest time period possible, that the presidents or the prime ministers of the Central African States lead the fight against wildlife crime by piloting and overseeing National Coordination Units (NCUs). These units, which will be comprised of experts from the administrations of the Prime Minister, the Counter-Intelligence, Justice, Wildlife, Police, Customs and Defense, will share information, coordinate field operations, prosecution, and collaborate with technical partners.

At the supranational level, the heads of these NCUs should coordinate with the countries of the region, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the information at hand and the urgency of the situation. These units will share information with their counterparts in the countries that have associated links with wildlife criminality – including transit countries for illegal wildlife products such as Nigeria, Sudan, Togo and Guinea Conakry – and with specialized international organizations such as INTERPOL.

Finally, the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of these NCUs must be made by the Forestry Commission of Central Africa on an annual basis and be based on information received by email from the heads of the NCUs.

For more Information, Please consult the  Press Release under:  Conservation-Organizations-Brazzaville Declaration - ENGLISH.pdf (1.3 MiB)

Authors: African Parks Network (APN)
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Fondation pour le Tri-National de Sangha (FTNS)
Projet d'appui à l'Application de la Loi sur la Faune Sauvage (PALF) TRAFFIC
Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (UICN) Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WWF