African Wildlife Economy Institute

A burning issue ❓Did you know that charcoal accounts for nearly 50% of Tanzania's household energy use? ❓Or that the entire charcoal value chain employs approximately two million people in Tanzania? The industry significantly contributes to the country’s GDP and necessitates efforts to enhance revenue collection through formalisation. But how? Mr William Marandu, Greyson Zabron Nyamoga, and Romanus Ishengoma surveyed 107 Charcoal actors to determine what supporting functions are important to charcoal actors in Tanzania to formalize their activities. The results showed that public-private partnerships, financial services, and market infrastructure were the most commonly identified functions key to formalising the sector and driving sustainable practices. Learn more about the challenges, innovative solutions, and government collaborations that are shaping the future of charcoal in Tanzania here: https://lnkd.in/dgg2EBPY #SustainableEnergy #CharcoalBusiness #Tanzania #EcoFriendly #PublicPrivatePartnerships #SustainableDevelopment #TanzaniaCharcoal #SustainableBusiness #CharcoalIndustry #MarketInfrastructure

📢 NEW DIALOGUE SERIES Can wild and domesticated species coexist in East Africa? We’re back with another fascinating series of dialogues on the wildlife economy in East Africa. Rapid land transformation destroys and degrades habitats, impacting biodiversity and livelihoods. The introduction of domestic species further impacts on wildlife, and this compromises Africa’s sustainable development and its ability to contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework's (GBF) targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. In this series, hosted by African Wildlife Economy Institute ShareScreen Africa and Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation, we will explore the innovative measures landowners and managers in East Africa are using to enhance the coexistence of wild and domesticated species, and address GBF targets. The dialogues will run every Thursday between 8 August and 26 September, Here’s the line up thus far: Thu 08 Aug Uganda's Human-Wildlife Management Interventions: A Case Study of Kibale National Park Thu 15 Aug Saving crops on a dime: the community way Thu 22 Aug Farming Bees alongside Canola: A Kenya Example Thu 5 Sep Living with Elephants: How farming communities co-exist with wildlife in a fragile biodiversity corridor Thu 12 Sep TBC Thu 19 Sep TBC Thu 26 Sep Innovative cattle ranching for ecological restoration (still TBC) Don’t miss out – find out more and register here: https://lnkd.in/dWmMt8aU #EastAfrica #WildlifeEconomy #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #AWEI #SSA #OppGen #HumanWildlifeManagement #Biodiversity

Building a wildlife economy A side event at the 33rd Meeting of the Animals Committee of CITES titled “Building a Wildlife Economy: Sustainable Use and Conservation of Wildlife Resources” took place in Geneva on 17 July. It was co-hosted by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), the African Wildlife Economy Institute, and Conservation Visions and focused on the importance of wildlife economies for biodiversity conservation, community livelihoods, and economic growth Key Takeaways: 1. Sustainable Wildlife Economy: Emphasis on sustainable use and conservation of wildlife resources to support biodiversity, community livelihoods, and economic growth. 2. Innovative Approaches: Successful examples from Africa and the Wild Harvest Initiative in North America highlighted innovative wildlife management strategies. 3. Collaboration and Long-Term Thinking: Importance of building trust between public and private sectors, and the need for long-term economic planning to ensure sustainable financing. 4. Indigenous and Local Involvement: Highlighting the significance of involving Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in conservation efforts for enduring success. For more information, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dF6jBK-A To view the presentations from the event: https://lnkd.in/d2Yw_GVi #CITES #WildlifeEconomy #Conservation #Sustainability #CommunityLivelihoods #EconomicGrowth #WildlifeManagement #IndigenousInvolvement #ConservationVisions

African Wildlife Economy Institute Director, Dr Francis Vorhies has arrived at the 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. On behalf of AWEI, Dr Vorhies will be co-hosting a sure-to-be-engaging side event with Conservation Visions on "Building a Wildlife Economy". With opening remarks from Secretary General of CITES, Ivonne Higuero, and facilitated by Sebastian Winkler, the panel discussion will feature Shane Mahoney, Founder of Conservation Visions, Hesiquio Benitez (TBC), Director of Biodiversity Cooperation and Implementation at CONABIO, Carolina Caceres, Director of International Biodiversity Policy, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Michael 't Sas-Rolfes, AWEI Research Fellow and CIC Expert on the South African Wildlife Economy. Expected outcomes for the event include the following: 1. Enhanced understanding of the diverse perspectives and challenges related to the wildlife economy on a global scale 2. Identification of collaborative opportunities for cross-regional partnerships and knowledge exchange 3. Development of actionable recommendations to promote sustainable wildlife management and conservation practices worldwide For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/d2Yw_GVi #CITESAnimalsCommittee #WildlifeEconomy #CITES #ConservationVisions #AWEI #GlobalConservation #WildlifePolicy

❇️ AWEI at Africa Liberty Forum 2024 ❇️ The Africa Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI) is front and centre at the #AfricaLibertyForum and side events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania this week (9-12 July 2024). Represented by Mr Chris Ndlovu, Dr Wiseman Ndlovu Ndlovu, and Mr Thapelo Brilliant Lebopa, the AWEI team is engaging in critical discussions around the intersection of wildlife economy, free trade, and sustainable development in Africa. 🔸Chris and Wiseman kicked off their engagement with a stimulating discussion at the #GeorgeAyitteySociety (GAS) on 10 July. The focus was on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the development politics in Africa, exploring the intricate dynamics of free trade and its implications for the continent’s economic growth and sustainability. 🔸 Thapelo also attended the Fundraising 360 workshop presented by Atlas Network Academy on 9 and 10 July. This session provided invaluable insights into effective fundraising strategies, equipping attendees with the skills to drive financial support for impactful initiatives. 🔹 Another highlight of the forum was Wiseman sharing the stage with Dr Ghyslaine Bruna and Mr Chris Hattingh to delve into "AfCFTA - The Potential for Improvements in Human and Wildlife Health in Africa." This panel underscored the critical role of #AfCFTA in not only boosting economic growth but also in enhancing the health and well-being of both humans and wildlife across the continent. ℹ️🔗For more information: https://lnkd.in/drPgCAiU #WildlifeEconomy #FreeTrade #SustainableDevelopment #Fundraising360 #AtlasNetworkAcademy Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation

Can institutional diversity and decentralisation succeed in saving Africa's rhinos where traditional policies have fallen short? New research by Mr Michael ’t Sas-Rolfes and Richard Emslie suggests that decentralisation and engagement of non-state actors significantly bolster conservation efforts. This pivotal study dissects the complex interplay of property rights, market forces, and various policy approaches, revealing that a mix of public and private management is crucial for optimal rhino conservation. Insights from Southern Africa, alongside historical and economic analyses, provide actionable recommendations to protect Africa's rhinos. Dive into the comprehensive research and discover how innovative policies can safeguard rhinos for future generations: https://lnkd.in/dcXSf7tT #AWEIResearch #RhinoConservation #SaveTheRhinos #WildlifeProtection #EcologicalResearch #ConservationPolicy

With the common desire to develop a sustainable baobab industry, AWEI is proud to be a new member of the African Baobab Alliance (ABA). ABA brings together baobab producers, traders, and brands from across Africa and beyond, as well as research institutions, such as AWEI, government agencies, NGOs, and professionals. They are united in a common desire to develop an ethical and sustainable baobab industry that will create new economic opportunities for low-income rural communities in Africa. The Alliance aims to: • Grow the demand for baobab in local and international food and cosmetic markets. • Improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the baobab industry. • Promote the adoption of common quality practices and standards across the baobab industry. Find out more about the African Baobab Alliance here: https://lnkd.in/eeRMpgKW #partnershipsforconservation #baobabconservation #AWEI #WildlifeEconomy #SustainableUse #AfricanBaobabAlliance #BaobabIndustry #EthicalBusiness

On 28 June 2024, AWEI was proud to be part of a meeting hosted by the FairWild Foundation and the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network to showcase the transformative role of voluntary standards and certification in wild-harvested products. If you missed it or would like to revisit it, you can now watch these compelling and inspiring presentations and listen to closing remarks by WCS's Ray Victurine on the African Wildlife Economy website: https://lnkd.in/dF9xeCBM

Are you working on the wildlife economy in Africa? We invite you to join us at the inaugural African Wildlife Economy Colloquium in Stellenbosch from 4-6 November. Submit an abstract to present your research or report and engage in strategic discussions on scaling up Africa's wildlife economy. Please click here to submit your abstract: https://lnkd.in/dhTVJagU For more information: https://lnkd.in/di9nyKsp Hosted by the African Wildlife Economy Institute, Stellenbosch University, the Center for Social Sciences at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation, ShareScreen Africa, the Southern African Wildlife College, and the University of Oxford Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. #WildlifeEconomyAfrica #AWEI #ConservationResearch #WildlifeConservation

This #FairWildWeek, the African Wildlife Economy Institute is shining a light on FairWild-certified wild-harvested aromatic gum resins from Somaliland. neo botanika sources these certified resins from areas owned and managed by indigenous people. Read more about Neo-botanika and their resins here: https://t.co/V1neysU7d6 #Neobotanika #ThePowerOfWild #WeUseWild #WildlifeEconomy