Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission

The pilot study presented in this report is part of an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) project initiated by the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The project aims to improve understanding of the impact of elephant meat trade on elephant populations in Central Africa.

L'objectif global de l'étude est d'améliorer les connaissances de la dynamique actuelle et les tendances du marché de la viande d'éléphant dans les pays d'Afrique centrale en procédant à une étude de l'impact du commerce de la viande d'éléphant. Les résultats visent à créer une série de variables de données de référence qu'on pourra ensuite suivre afin d'évaluer les tendances du commerce de la viande et de l'ivoire au niveau du site.

The overall objective of the study is to enhance knowledge of contemporary elephant meat market dynamics, patterns and trends in Central African countries by undertaking an elephant meat trade impact study. The results aim to establish a baseline data set of variables that can subsequently be monitored to assess trends in meat and ivory trade at the site level.

An independent scientific review panel was formed under the auspices of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) to review the results of research on belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), or white whales, in the Sakhalin–Amur region of eastern Russia and to assess the sustainability of recent live-capture removals.

These 15th Proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears in the circumpolar Arctic. Together with the previous 14 proceedings, they provide an historic record of the international effort in protecting, studying, and managing polar bears. The document addresses more recent concerns of threats arising as a consequence of increased human activities in both the Arctic and in regions far beyond the Arctic.

Great ape tourism, if well implemented, can serve to conserve the species but it can also have considerable negative impacts if it is not based on sound conservation principles. These guidelines have been developed for both existing and potential great apes tourism sites that wish to improve the degree to which their programme contributes to the conservation rather than the exploitation of great apes.

Le tourisme de vision des grands singes, s'il est bien mis en application, peut servir à sauvegarder l'espèce, mais il peut également avoir de nombreux effets négatifs s'il est basé sur des principes de conservation mal définis. Ces lignes directrices ont été développées à l'intention des sites de tourisme de vision des grands singes existants et potentiels, et qui désirent améliorer le degré auquel leur programme contribue à la conservation plutôt qu’à l'exploitation des grands singes.

Great ape tourism, if well implemented, can serve to conserve the species but it can also have considerable negative impacts if it is not based on sound conservation principles. These guidelines have been developed for both existing and potential great apes tourism sites that wish to improve the degree to which their programme contributes to the conservation rather than the exploitation of great apes.

One of the challenges facing great ape conservation is the rising level of interaction between humans and great apes, and the resulting conflicts that emerge. It is essential that we develop a comprehensive understanding of existing and potential conflict situations, and their current or future impacts on both great apes and humans.

Un des défis auxquels la conservation des grands singes doit faire face est l’interaction croissante entre les humains et les grands singes, et les conflits que cela génère. Il est impératif de développer une compréhension détaillée des situations de conflit actuelles et potentielles et leurs impacts présents et futurs à la fois sur les grands singes et les humains.