In 1997, parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (cites) adopted a resolution on trade in elephants specimens, recognizing that illegal trade…

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.620 - African Elephant Conservation Fund) provides $742,125 to Traffic International, a non-profit organization, to support the ongoing management and coordination of the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) program. The key activities funded under this award include: 1) Collecting, validating, and managing global elephant specimen seizure data into the ETIS database for trend analysis of illicit ivory trade; 2) Maintaining and enhancing the ETIS online platform to enable CITES Parties secure access for data submission, review, and downloading, as well as alerts; and 3) Producing and disseminating information, findings, and analysis on ETIS and ivory trade issues to CITES meetings and Parties. The grant award will also support implementation of recommendations from a recent ETIS program review, such as improving data collection and validation processes. This 5-year project (May 2024 - April 2029) is a continuation of previous ETIS support provided to Traffic International by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 1997, parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (cites) adopted a resolution on trade in elephants specimens, recognizing that illegal trade in elephant specimens is a serious threat to elephants in many parts of their range 1 . Over 20 years later, poaching for ivory is still highlighted as a major cause for the decline of both species of african elephants recognized by the international union for the conservation of nature- the critically endangered african forest elephants (loxodonta cyclotis) and the endangered african savanna elephants (l.africana) 2,3 . To monitor the illegal trade in elephant specimens, the cites resolution established the elephant trade information systems (etis) program to create an information base, monitor trends in illegal ivory trade, and make assessments to inform cites decision-making. For over 25 years, traffic has managed etis including collection and management of parties seizure data, done since 2020 via etis online allowing parties to submit and access data for full transparency. Traffic has also conducted analyses using peer-reviewed statistical methods, with plans to produce annual trend reports where feasible, for consideration by meetings of the cites standing committee (SC) and conference of parties (COP). The etis report to COP is the foundation to identify parties requiring attention under the national ivory action plan (niap) process, which guides national efforts to combat poaching and ivory trafficking. With eight of the 13 niap parties being african elephant range states, including strongholds of african forest elephant populations, etis data and analyses play a major role in african elephant conservation. In 2022 at its 19TH meeting of the COP (COP19), cites parties adopted recommendations of an etis program review. Etis scored satisfactory overall, with the highest score of highly satisfactory for strategic relevance, and lowest score of moderately likely for sustainability 4 . The review identified funding inconsistencies as impeding etis from achieving its objectives, enhancing its functionality and ensuring its robustness parties adopted decisions to address the funding situation (e.g., as specified in relation to agenda item 63.2 in 5 ), but budget shortages remain. Traffic is also the responsible party to implement several high- and medium-priority review recommendations by COP21 subject to external funding these included improving data collection and validation processes, revisiting modeling covariates and analytical framework, and additional administrative matters 6 . The requested funds (US$1,236,613) will support the ongoing management and coordination of etis for collection and validation of etis data analysis and interpretation to produce regular reports to cites and stakeholder engagement responding to requests from the cites secretariat and parties. Therefore, expected project outcome will benefit the parties efforts to implement the convention, and deliver on GOAL2 in the nofo by improving conservation governance, and specifically desired result 2D, by enhancing compliance with cites. Specific activities include:1.collecting, validating and managing global elephant specimen seizure data and subsidiary data into etis for analysis of trends in illicit ivory trade 2.maintaining and enhancing the etis online and providing training so parties have secured access for data submission, review and downloading, and can receive alerts when data related to their country are added to the database 3. Producing and disseminating information, findings and analysis on etis and ivory trade issues to relevant cites meetings and the parties. Implementation of the etis review recommendations will be part of the on-going activities. This proposal is a continuation of an earlier project funded by USFWS (covering 20212023) to support etis program objectives through similar activities to those listed above.