Support an elephant conservation effort in gabon by reducing human-elephant conflict (HEC) and improving local livelihoods

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the African Elephant Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.620) provides $1,110,258.42 to support an elephant conservation effort in Gabon. The key activities include: (1) deploying and adapting 100 mobile elephant-proof electric fences annually in Nyanga Province to mitigate human-elephant conflict; (2) installing a new provincial mobile unit office and recruiting/training staff; (3) providing training and capacity building for community members and government stakeholders; and (4) developing and distributing fencing outreach materials. The project aims to conserve African forest elephants and their habitat by addressing the impacts of human-elephant conflict, with a focus on Gabon as a primary stronghold for the species. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

Gabon is the primary remaining stronghold for the species, with an estimated 95,110 elephants (over half the remaining forest elephant population). This project is intended to conserve african forest elephants and their habitat by addressing the impacts of HEC. Activities include: (1) deploying and or adapting 100 mobile elephant-proof electric fences annually in the nyanga province (2) installing a new provincial mobile unit office and recruiting and training office staff (3) providing training and capacity building for community beneficiaries and government stakeholders, including formal and informal training workshops and development of a fence-user manual and annotated best practices guide and (4) developing and distributing fencing outreach materials in nyanga province.