This year, with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development we have witnessed a fundamental shift in the way we approach global development. In September we saw the international community gather to adopt a set of ambitious, universal Goals addressing all three dimensions of sustainable development – social, economic and environmental – not only for the benefit of people and our shared prosperity, but also for the long-term sustainability of our planet.  It is an Agenda fit to address the multi-faced challenges of our time.

Wildlife conservation is precisely that type of complex challenge that demands a truly comprehensive approach. Its implications for biodiversity, livelihoods of rural populations and stability of large territories are vast.

Sustainable Development Goal 15 explicitly calls for urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, address illegal wildlife trafficking and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

Earlier this year the United Nations General Assembly adopted a strong Resolution on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife.

The world is waking up to the challenge.

And the EU stands ready to be part of the global response.

The link between biodiversity and development has for long been at the heart of the European Commission's activities under the "Biodiversity for Life" flagship programme.

And today, with the launch of the report 'Larger than Elephants' we present a new strategic approach to wildlife conservation in Africa, developed with the invaluable support of so many of you present here today.

The impetus for developing this strategic approach has come from the pressing need to address the growing wildlife crisis in Africa. Wildlife trafficking and poaching threatens biodiversity and human lives, fuels corruption and undermines good governance.….Read more

In press:

1. "Larger than Elephants" - The European Commission hosted a successful technical expert meeting on a Strategic Approach to Wildlife Conservation in Africa 

2. Halting the loss of nature and biodiversity requires broad commitment by nations, businesses and individual stakeholders. . The European Commission recently launched its EU Biodiversity for Life (B4Life) initiative, to address this issue with a coherent approach, coordinating EU biodiversity interventions towards international targets. 

3. EU strategic appraoch for African Wildlife Conservation: (1) Synthesis - See more 

4. The European Commission to develop a Wildlife Trafficking Action Plan - See more...