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WCC 2012 Res 022 - Activity Report

General Information
IUCN Constituent: 
Headquarters
IUCN Constituent type: 
IUCN Secretariat
Period covered: 
2015
Geographic scope: 
Africa
In implementing this Resolution your organization has worked/consulted with...
IUCN Members: 
No other Members are/have been involved
IUCN Commissions: 
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2013-2016 (SSC)
IUCN Secretariat: 
Yes
Other non-IUCN related organisations: 
The first draft of the report was circulated widely among both SSC and IUCN members more generally for consultation, with an open invitation for comments on interpretation of data and presentation of results, incorrect or missing information, and any suggestions for improvements
Implementation
Indicate and briefly describe any actions that have been carried out to implement this Resolution: 
ActionDescription
Scientific/technical activitiesIUCN SSC led an independent study to i) summarize currently available information on the medium- to large-bodied terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate fauna of West and Central Africa; ii) document the primary impacts and drivers of wildlife loss in the region; and iii) to briefly review existing conservation measures and effectiveness. The study was undertaken to inform responses to several...
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken: 
The report was formally published in May 2015 and was publicized widely including in the SSC e-bulletin, the Protecting the Planet newsletter, the NAPA newsletter and the Biopama newsletter as well as on numerous listserves. It has received fairly wide uptake since then, although it is too early to gauge impact at least in terms of citation. Although every effort was made to secure wide stake-holder NGO buy-in, it is unclear at this point the degree to which the report has received the same level of uptake as the inter-tidal situation analysis completed in 2012 (where, in particular, the engagement of BirdLife Partners, and especially RSPB, was key). Currently, the report is available only in English, but the French translation is in the works and hopefully will be ready in time for the PACO Regional Conservation Forum in November 2015, which will present a key opportunity for uptake.
What challenges have you encountered in implementing this Resolution and what measures have you taken to overcome them?: 
The report has identified several research gaps, but one notable issue that should be addressed urgently is the inconsistency between datasets that are seen as global standards, including on protected areas, key sites for biodiversity, and national legislation. IUCN will clearly have a key role to play here through its oversight of the WDPA, KBAs and Ecolex.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions are planned for the implementation of this Resolution: 
Future ActionDescription
Policy influencing/advocacyAt this point, our sense is that while outreach to NGOs and others working locally has been reasonable, much more needs to be done to raise the profile of the study and the implications of its findings among IUCN Members, especially government members, in-region. However, this awaits the translation of the report into French.
Scientific/technical activitiesAt the same time as IUCN has finalized its report, the EU has been finalizing its "Strategic approach for African Wildlife Conservation". We will make use of this opportunity to lead the development of a policy piece for publication in a high-impact journal together with colleagues in the EU (under the leadership of Phil McGowan) in the hope of driving further attention to the issue...
Additional Information