AFRICA BIODIVERSITY COLLABORATIVE GROUP (ABCG):

Working Together to Help Conserve Africa's Biodiversity                             

                                

                                         

                                                                            

The Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG)

is composed of the Africa program staff from the major

U.S.-based international conservation

non-governmental organizations with field activities in Africa.

ABCG meets regularly to explore emerging conservation issues,

share lessons learned, and seek opportunities for collaboration.

ABCG’s MissionTo tackle complex andTo tackle complex and

changing conservation challengeschanging conservation challenges

by catalyzing and strengthening by catalyzing and strengthening collaboration, and bringing thecollaboration, and bringing the

best resources from acrossbest resources from across

a continuum of conservationa continuum of conservation

organizations to effectively and organizations to effectively and efficiently work towards efficiently work towards

conservation in Africa.conservation in Africa.

  ABCG’s Objectives  To promote networking, awareness, information To promote networking, awareness, information

sharing and experience among U.S. conservation sharing and experience among U.S. conservation non-governmental organizations working in Africa;non-governmental organizations working in Africa;

   To encourage information exchange and idea To encourage information exchange and idea

sharing with African partners;sharing with African partners;   To identify and analyze critical and/or emerging To identify and analyze critical and/or emerging

conservation issues in Africa as priorities for both conservation issues in Africa as priorities for both future NGO action and donor support; andfuture NGO action and donor support; and

To synthesize collective lessons from field To synthesize collective lessons from field activities and share them with a broader multi-activities and share them with a broader multi-sector community in the United States and Africa.sector community in the United States and Africa.

ABCG Member Organizations African Wildlife FoundationAfrican Wildlife Foundation

(http://www.awf.org)(http://www.awf.org)

Biodiversity Support Biodiversity Support ProgramProgram

(http://www.bsponline.org)(http://www.bsponline.org)

Conservation InternationalConservation International (http://www.conservation.org)(http://www.conservation.org)

IUCN-The World IUCN-The World Conservation UnionConservation Union

((http://www.iucn.org/http://www.iucn.org/ places/usa/index.htmlplaces/usa/index.html))

Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Conservation SocietySociety

(http://www.wcs.org)(http://www.wcs.org)

World Resources World Resources InstituteInstitute

(http://www.wri.org)(http://www.wri.org)

World Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife Fund

((http://www.wwfus.orhttp://www.wwfus.orgg))

Programs of ABCG Member Organizations

AWF- AWF- HeartlandsHeartlandsBSP- BSP- AnalysisAnalysisCI- CI- Hotspots & Tropical Hotspots & Tropical

Wilderness AreasWilderness AreasIUCN- IUCN- USA Multilateral OfficeUSA Multilateral OfficeWCS- WCS- Living Landscapes and ResearchLiving Landscapes and ResearchWRI- WRI- Environmental AccountabilityEnvironmental AccountabilityWWF- WWF- EcoregionsEcoregions

AWF Heartlands

Heartlands are large African Heartlands are large African landscapes of exceptional wildlife landscapes of exceptional wildlife and natural value extending across and natural value extending across state, private and community lands. state, private and community lands. AWF joins with landholders, AWF joins with landholders, governments and others in the governments and others in the Heartlands to conserve wild species, Heartlands to conserve wild species, communities and natural processes. communities and natural processes.

AWF Heartlands SamburuSamburu Maasai Steppe Maasai Steppe Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro VirungaVirunga ZambeziZambezi LimpopoLimpopo Four CornersFour Corners

Heartlands

BSP Analysis in Africa Armed Conflict and ConservationArmed Conflict and Conservation Transboundary Natural Resource Transboundary Natural Resource

ManagementManagement Protected Areas Conservation Strategy Protected Areas Conservation Strategy

(PARCS): Training Needs Assessment(PARCS): Training Needs Assessment Principles in PracticePrinciples in Practice Influencing Behaviors Influencing Behaviors

CI HotspotsThe key criteria for determining a Hotspot The key criteria for determining a Hotspot are are endemismendemism (the presence of species (the presence of species found nowhere else) and found nowhere else) and degree of degree of threatthreat. . Plant endemismPlant endemism is the primary criterion for is the primary criterion for Hotspots status because plants support Hotspots status because plants support most other forms of life through their most other forms of life through their ability to harness energy form sunlight. The ability to harness energy form sunlight. The degree of threatdegree of threat is measured in terms of is measured in terms of habitat loss. Hotspots have lost at least 70 habitat loss. Hotspots have lost at least 70 percent of their original natural vegetation.percent of their original natural vegetation.

Hotspots

CI Tropical Wilderness Areas

Tropical wilderness areas are the largest Tropical wilderness areas are the largest remaining tracts of pristine tropical forest remaining tracts of pristine tropical forest on Earth, are more than 70 percent intact, on Earth, are more than 70 percent intact, and are typically under less pressure from and are typically under less pressure from encroaching human populations than encroaching human populations than areas like the Hotspots. Tropical areas like the Hotspots. Tropical Wilderness Areas are of crucial importance Wilderness Areas are of crucial importance to climate regulation and watershed to climate regulation and watershed protection. Also, these areas are among protection. Also, these areas are among the last places where indigenous people the last places where indigenous people can maintain traditional lifestyles.can maintain traditional lifestyles.

Tropical Wilderness Areas

Hotspots in Africa

Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and KenyaTanzania and Kenya

Guinean Forests of West AfricaGuinean Forests of West Africa Madagascar and Indian Ocean IslandsMadagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Cape Floristic ProvinceCape Floristic Province Succulent KarooSucculent Karoo

Tropical Wilderness Areas Tropical Wilderness Areas in Africain Africa

Congo BasinCongo Basin

WCS Living LandscapesThe Living Landscape Program is based on The Living Landscape Program is based on a simple reality: animals do not recognize a simple reality: animals do not recognize park boundaries, particularly wide-ranging park boundaries, particularly wide-ranging species such as elephants, bears and species such as elephants, bears and jaguars. While parks are essential for jaguars. While parks are essential for conservation, the larger landscape adjacent conservation, the larger landscape adjacent to protected areas, "alive" with both to protected areas, "alive" with both humans and animals, is often as important humans and animals, is often as important to many species. To protect these "Living to many species. To protect these "Living Landscapes," WCS has created an Landscapes," WCS has created an approach that involves not only parks and approach that involves not only parks and protected areas, but neighboring people, protected areas, but neighboring people, governments and the private sector.governments and the private sector...

WCS in AfricaCountries:Countries: CameroonCameroon Central African RepublicCentral African Republic Congo RepublicCongo Republic Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of

Congo Congo   Gabon Gabon   Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Kenya Kenya Madagascar Madagascar Nigeria Nigeria Rwanda Rwanda Tanzania Tanzania Uganda Uganda Zambia Zambia Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

Regional Africa: Regional Africa: Conservation of the forests of Conservation of the forests of

the Albertine Rift. the Albertine Rift. Central African Regional Central African Regional

Program for the Environment Program for the Environment Regional training and inventory Regional training and inventory

program in Central African program in Central African forests forests

Development of elephant Development of elephant monitoring system in the Congo monitoring system in the Congo Basin for CITES.Basin for CITES.

Trinational monitoring: Congo, Trinational monitoring: Congo, CAR, Cameroon CAR, Cameroon

Development of efficient Development of efficient methods for large mammal methods for large mammal surveyssurveys

Nutritional analyses of food Nutritional analyses of food composition for African composition for African mammals, birds, and reptilesmammals, birds, and reptiles

Central African Republic to Central African Republic to Gabon Megatransect. Gabon Megatransect.

WWF EcoregionsEcoregions are the broadest Ecoregions are the broadest variety of the Earth's most variety of the Earth's most outstanding and diverse outstanding and diverse terrestrial, freshwater, and terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats--areas where the marine habitats--areas where the Earth's biological wealth is most Earth's biological wealth is most distinctive and rich, where its loss distinctive and rich, where its loss will be most severely felt, and will be most severely felt, and where we must fight the hardest where we must fight the hardest for conservation. for conservation.

Ecoregions

WWF-US in Africa

1.1. Northwest Congolian Lowland Forests Northwest Congolian Lowland Forests

2.2. Forests of the Congo Basin Forests of the Congo Basin

3.3. Zambezian Woodlands and Savannas Zambezian Woodlands and Savannas

4.4. Lakes of the Rift Valley Lakes of the Rift Valley

5.5. East African Marine Ecosystems, East African Marine Ecosystems, Mangroves, and Coral ReefsMangroves, and Coral Reefs

6.6. Madagascar Dry Forest and Spiny Madagascar Dry Forest and Spiny Desert Desert

IUCN – USA Multilateral Office

The IUCN Office based in Washington D.C. The IUCN Office based in Washington D.C. provides vital linkages for the World provides vital linkages for the World Conservation Union and its members to Conservation Union and its members to key US-based international organizations, key US-based international organizations, government agencies and a diverse set of government agencies and a diverse set of environmental NGOs, including the World environmental NGOs, including the World Bank, the UN System, the Inter-American Bank, the UN System, the Inter-American Development Bank and a variety of Development Bank and a variety of foundations.foundations.

WRI Environmental AccountabilityGoal is to establish natural resources Goal is to establish natural resources governance systems in SubSaharan Africa governance systems in SubSaharan Africa that will lead to socially equitable and that will lead to socially equitable and environmental sustainable economic environmental sustainable economic development. development.

Three Components:Three Components:

1. Procedural Rights1. Procedural Rights

2. Decentralization2. Decentralization

3. NGO Capacity Building3. NGO Capacity Building

WRI Environmental AccountabilityPursue three strategic objectives:Pursue three strategic objectives:

1. Influence the character of ongoing World 1. Influence the character of ongoing World Bank, United Nations, and other donor-driven Bank, United Nations, and other donor-driven environmental reform efforts in Africa;environmental reform efforts in Africa;

2. Facilitate the creation of institutions that 2. Facilitate the creation of institutions that enable the participation of citizens and civil enable the participation of citizens and civil society in democratic and accountable society in democratic and accountable environmental decision-making; andenvironmental decision-making; and

3. Develop a new generation of policy analysts 3. Develop a new generation of policy analysts and institutions focused on the intersection of and institutions focused on the intersection of social, institutional, and ecological problemssocial, institutional, and ecological problems

WRI Global Forest Watch

Global Forest Watch is an international data Global Forest Watch is an international data and mapping network that combines on-the-and mapping network that combines on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information about the world's provide accurate information about the world's forestsforests

Analysis of Access to Central Africa’s Analysis of Access to Central Africa’s Rainforests identifies relatively undisturbed Rainforests identifies relatively undisturbed forest blocks in Central Africa, providing maps forest blocks in Central Africa, providing maps that show their size, condition and current levels that show their size, condition and current levels of protection. Includes the first comprehensive of protection. Includes the first comprehensive picture of where logging concessions are located picture of where logging concessions are located throughout the region.throughout the region.

ABCG Activities

Host meetings on emerging conservation Host meetings on emerging conservation themesthemes

and linkages with key experts and linkages with key experts Compile and circulate background materials,Compile and circulate background materials,

bibliographies, presentations, and meeting bibliographies, presentations, and meeting minutesminutes

on emerging conservation themeson emerging conservation themes Conduct analysisConduct analysis Network and share informationNetwork and share information Raise awareness among U.S.-based decision- Raise awareness among U.S.-based decision-

makers about the need to conserve Africa’smakers about the need to conserve Africa’s

natural resourcesnatural resources

ABCG Theme Meetings Priority Setting and Site-Based ConservationPriority Setting and Site-Based Conservation PlanningPlanning

Transboundary Natural Resource ManagementTransboundary Natural Resource Management

Gaps and Opportunities in the Congo BasinGaps and Opportunities in the Congo Basin

Wildlife User RightsWildlife User Rights

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

Innovative Actions to Address the BushmeatInnovative Actions to Address the Bushmeat CrisisCrisis

ABCG Theme Meetings (continued) Implications of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Implications of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Natural Resources and the ConservationNatural Resources and the Conservation Workforce in AfricaWorkforce in Africa

Training for African Protected Area and Wildlife Training for African Protected Area and Wildlife Personnel: New Initiatives and Challenges Personnel: New Initiatives and Challenges Facing Facing Regional Wildlife CollegesRegional Wildlife Colleges

Conservation and ConflictConservation and Conflict

Mining and ConservationMining and Conservation

ABCG Theme Meetings (continued) Links between Poverty and Conservation in Links between Poverty and Conservation in AfricaAfrica

ABCG and the World Parks CongressABCG and the World Parks Congress

ABCG and CITESABCG and CITES

Sustainable Financing for African ConservationSustainable Financing for African Conservation

Lessons Learned from “Nature, Wealth andLessons Learned from “Nature, Wealth and

Power”Power”

ABCG Collaborates:

Bushmeat Crisis Task ForceBushmeat Crisis Task Force

Inter-Agency Planning Group on Inter-Agency Planning Group on Environmental FundsEnvironmental Funds

Community Conservation Community Conservation CoalitionCoalition

Recent ABCG Analysis

HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management LinkagesManagement Linkages

Conducted analysis is East and SouthernConducted analysis is East and Southern Africa of coping strategies Africa of coping strategies Held workshop in Nairobi to discuss Held workshop in Nairobi to discuss institutional impacts, impacts to CBNRMinstitutional impacts, impacts to CBNRM Presented findings at internationalPresented findings at international meetingsmeetings Starting HIV/AIDS & NRM Listserv on FRAMEStarting HIV/AIDS & NRM Listserv on FRAME www.frameweb.orgwww.frameweb.org

Recent ABCG Analysis

HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management LinkagesManagement Linkages

Key Findings:Key Findings: Loss of capacity for conservationLoss of capacity for conservation Increased pressure on natural Increased pressure on natural resourcesresources Changes in land useChanges in land use Loss of traditional knowledge Loss of traditional knowledge

Nairobi Workshop

Recent ABCG Analysis

Influence:Influence:

Adoption of institutional policies on Adoption of institutional policies on

HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Incorporation of HIV/AIDS activities intoIncorporation of HIV/AIDS activities into

conservation programsconservation programs

Upcoming ABCG Theme Meetings Tourism in African Marine Protected AreasTourism in African Marine Protected Areas

Conservation of Large African LakesConservation of Large African Lakes

Security and Conservation in AfricaSecurity and Conservation in Africa

Human Rights and Conservation in AfricaHuman Rights and Conservation in Africa

Impacts of Global Climate Change in Africa Impacts of Global Climate Change in Africa

Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management

Conservation EnterprisesConservation Enterprises

Upcoming ABCG Activities

Pursue information exchange Pursue information exchange and idea sharing with African and idea sharing with African partnerspartners using FRAMEusing FRAME

Study effective Study effective communications methods for communications methods for sharing lessons learned to sharing lessons learned to influence behavior changeinfluence behavior change

For more information about ABCG, contact:For more information about ABCG, contact:

Nancy GelmanNancy GelmanABCG Program ManagerABCG Program Manager

co/ CI Africa Divisionco/ CI Africa Division1919 M Street, NW1919 M Street, NWWashington, DC 20036 USAWashington, DC 20036 USAphone: (202) 912-1444phone: (202) 912-1444fax: (202) 912-1026fax: (202) 912-1026email: n.gelman@conservation.orgemail: n.gelman@conservation.orghttp://www.abcg.orghttp://www.abcg.org