WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN PROTECTED AREAS: A REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES, David W. Henson, Robert C. Malpas and Floris A.C. D’Udine, Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 58 (IUCN, 2016)
Introduction
Unprecedented levels of poaching of high value charismatic species across Africa is severely threatening their future. As poaching groups increase in size and sophistication, law enforcement responses need to become more robust, reliable, and effective.
The report is primarily aimed at supporting the strengthening of law enforcement at the protected area (PA) or site-level. However, some of the best practices the report describes may also be relevant at the sub-national and national level. The target audience of the report is PA or site level managers and professionals. This could be government, community or private sector managers. It could also include staff from NGOs and other organizations giving support in these areas.
By highlighting initiatives that achieve success and address shortfalls, this report can influence and inform the implementation of more effective anti-poaching interventions. This report can also improve communication and knowledge sharing across sectors and countries. This includes helping to promote more and better targeted wildlife law enforcement support across the continent.
Best Practices
The report describes a range of emerging as well as longstanding law enforcement best practices. These are likely to be of maximum relevance for professionals working in PAs across the continent. It does not attempt to be an exhaustive manual of all law enforcement best practices being implemented across the continent. It also not attempt to describe some of the most advanced law enforcement practices now used in some PAs. Some of these advanced practices may be very promising but they may not yet be relevant in other PAs.
Furthermore, the report describes the various best practices relatively superficially to keep the report to an acceptable length. However, wherever possible, the report points the reader to additional resources for further information as required. As such the report aims to present the spectrum of approaches that effective site-level wildlife law enforcement requires. It further aims to provide an insight into approaches that have worked and could potentially be adapted to other circumstances.
You can read the full report here.
