Elephant Conservation Action Plan for Uganda Country/Territory Uganda Document type Date 2016 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Protection of species Management/conservation Ecosystem preservation National parks Policy/planning Protected area Protection forest Protection of habitats Research Wild fauna Geographical area Africa, AFRICA FAO, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries Abstract This policy provides the framework for an action plan towards the conservation of the vulnerable elephant population in Uganda. In very graphic details, it portrays the need for the conservation of elephants by showing the gradual decline of the elephant population over the years, and points out the specific reasons for this decline. However, it remarks that there has been a gradual increase of the elephant population since the 1980s in key protected areas, owing to the success of conservation efforts implemented by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, improved legislation and conservation policies, the stability and security in the country. The number has risen from 2,000 in the 1980s to around 5,564 at present, and this is still a far cry from the 30,000 which was recorded in the 1920s. The policy specifically points out that the increase in elephant populations has led to human-wildlife conflicts mainly the loss of elephant habitats caused by agricultural expansion driven by the increase in human population. In noting the importance of elephants in the Ugandan society, the vision of the plan is to create viable elephant populations, playing their functional role across their range, benefiting the people of Uganda and the global community and the goal is to increase elephants to 8,300 from the current 5,564 distributed across the range. In developing the policy, information was collected from field data surveys conducted by wildlife management institutions since the 1960s. consultations were also held to develop the policy. To advance the plan, six strategic objectives were developed, to wit; (a.) Poaching of elephants and trade in elephant products halted; (b.) Human-elephant conflict minimized; (c.) Habitat loss and degradation controlled; (d.) Research on elephant conservation issues strengthened; (e.) Effective protection of elephants occurring through awareness, collaboration, resource mobilization and management; and (f.) Benefits from elephant conservation accruing to Ugandans. The plan is developed to cover a ten year period, and to be reviewed after five years. The plan analyses the issues of conservation in the various protected areas scattered around the country. The importance of collecting data on elephant mortality for monitoring purposes is emphasized, as this measures the ratio of mortality caused by poaching to natural causes. annexed to this, the plan intends to stop all forms of elephant poaching by 2026. The plan addresses current framework for elephant conservation by analyzing the provisions of certain legislations and policies, including the Ugandan Constitution. In conclusion, the plan identifies several areas which need to be funded to enhance the efficient achievement of its strategic objectives, these include population survey programmes in fragmented forests and in forested national parks, elephant crop raiding interventions like digging and maintenance of trenches or fencing critical crop raiding sites, research activities in the areas of elephant ecology, anti-poaching projects, among others. Full text English Website www.ugandawildlife.org