Anti-Poaching and Wildlife Law Enforcement in Africa: What Works, Where, and Why?

Key Points in Document:

• This report is a systematic review of effective wildlife law enforcement practices across Africa in light of the current poaching crisis. This report documents “the full spectrum of approaches that effective wildlife law enforcement requires and provides insight into approaches that have worked and could be adapted to other circumstances.”
• This report is intended to help direct future law enforcement activities and to improve communication and knowledge management across sectors and countries. Information from this report was gathered from a review of grey and peer-reviewed literature, an online survey of experts and practitioners to solicit qualitative and quantitative input, and stakeholder consultations and site visits.
• The report is organized around three interrelated pillars of the wildlife law enforcement chain: law enforcement patrols, law enforcement management, and investigations and intelligence operations.
• A large volume of nuanced findings are contained in the report, including information on:

-       effective leadership

-       support and incentivization of patrol staff

-       collection and management of data

-       management systems

-       crime scene management

-       intelligence gathering

• The authors generally found that “there are no stand-alone, simple, or universal solutions to addressing wildlife crime… successful wildlife law enforcement depends on sustained and well-targeted actions across a number of fronts.”

 

Citation: Frankfurt Zoological Society, German Agency for International Cooperation, Conservation Development Center. Anti-Poaching and Wildlife Law Enforcement in Africa: What Works, Where, and Why? (Draft Report). 2014.