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 Mission To tackle complex and changing conservation challenges changing conservation challenges by catalyzing and strengthening collaboration, and bringing the best resources from across best resources from across a continuum of conservation a continuum of conservation organizations to effectively and efficiently work towards organizations to effectively and efficiently work towards conservation in Africa.

ABCG’s Objectives To promote networking, awareness, information sharing and experience among U.S. conservation non-governmental organizations working in Africa; To promote networking, awareness, information sharing and experience among U.S. conservation non-governmental organizations working in Africa; To encourage information exchange and idea sharing with African partners; To encourage information exchange and idea sharing with African partners; To identify and analyze critical and/or emerging conservation issues in Africa as priorities for both future NGO action and donor support; and To identify and analyze critical and/or emerging conservation issues in Africa as priorities for both future NGO action and donor support; and To synthesize collective lessons from field activities and share them with a broader multi- sector community in the United States and Africa. To synthesize collective lessons from field activities and share them with a broader multi- sector community in the United States and Africa.

ABCG Member Organizations African Wildlife Foundation African Wildlife Foundation ( ( Biodiversity Support Program Biodiversity Support Program ( ( Conservation International Conservation International ( ( IUCN-The World Conservation Union IUCN-The World Conservation Union ( ( places/usa/index.html) places/usa/index.html) Wildlife Conservation Society ( World Resources Institute ( World Wildlife Fund (

Programs of ABCG Member Organizations AWF- Heartlands BSP- Analysis CI- Hotspots & Tropical Wilderness Areas IUCN- USA Multilateral Office WCS- Living Landscapes and Research WRI- Environmental Accountability WWF- Ecoregions

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

AWF Heartlands Samburu Samburu Maasai Steppe Maasai Steppe Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro Virunga Virunga Zambezi Zambezi Limpopo Limpopo Four Corners Four Corners

Heartlands

BSP Analysis in Africa Armed Conflict and Conservation Armed Conflict and Conservation Transboundary Natural Resource Management Transboundary Natural Resource Management Protected Areas Conservation Strategy (PARCS): Training Needs Assessment Protected Areas Conservation Strategy (PARCS): Training Needs Assessment Principles in Practice Principles in Practice Influencing Behaviors Influencing Behaviors

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

Hotspots

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

Tropical Wilderness Areas

Hotspots in Africa Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya Guinean Forests of West Africa Guinean Forests of West Africa Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Cape Floristic Province Cape Floristic Province Succulent Karoo Succulent Karoo Tropical Wilderness Areas in Africa Congo Basin Congo Basin

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

WCS in AfricaCountries: Cameroon Cameroon Central African Republic Central African Republic Congo Republic Congo Republic Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of 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: Conservation of the forests of the Albertine Rift. Central African Regional Program for the Environment Regional training and inventory program in Central African forests Development of elephant monitoring system in the Congo Basin for CITES. Trinational monitoring: Congo, CAR, Cameroon Development of efficient methods for large mammal surveys Nutritional analyses of food composition for African mammals, birds, and reptiles Central African Republic to Gabon Megatransect.

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

Ecoregions

WWF-US in Africa 1. Northwest Congolian Lowland Forests 2. Forests of the Congo Basin 3. Zambezian Woodlands and Savannas 4. Lakes of the Rift Valley 5. East African Marine Ecosystems, Mangroves, and Coral Reefs 6. Madagascar Dry Forest and Spiny Desert

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

WRI Environmental Accountability Goal is to establish natural resources governance systems in SubSaharan Africa that will lead to socially equitable and environmental sustainable economic development. Three Components: 1. Procedural Rights 2. Decentralization 3. NGO Capacity Building

WRI Environmental Accountability Pursue three strategic objectives: 1. Influence the character of ongoing World Bank, United Nations, and other donor-driven environmental reform efforts in Africa; 2. Facilitate the creation of institutions that enable the participation of citizens and civil society in democratic and accountable environmental decision-making; and 3. Develop a new generation of policy analysts and institutions focused on the intersection of social, institutional, and ecological problems

WRI Global Forest Watch Global Forest Watch is an international data and mapping network that combines on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information about the world's forests Global Forest Watch is an international data and mapping network that combines on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information about the world's forests Analysis of Access to Central Africa’s Rainforests identifies relatively undisturbed forest blocks in Central Africa, providing maps that show their size, condition and current levels of protection. Includes the first comprehensive picture of where logging concessions are located throughout the region. Analysis of Access to Central Africa’s Rainforests identifies relatively undisturbed forest blocks in Central Africa, providing maps that show their size, condition and current levels of protection. Includes the first comprehensive picture of where logging concessions are located throughout the region.

ABCG Activities Host meetings on emerging conservation themes Host meetings on emerging conservation themes and linkages with key experts and linkages with key experts Compile and circulate background materials, Compile and circulate background materials, bibliographies, presentations, and meeting minutes bibliographies, presentations, and meeting minutes on emerging conservation themes on emerging conservation themes Conduct analysis Conduct analysis Network and share information Network and share information Raise awareness among U.S.-based decision- Raise awareness among U.S.-based decision- makers about the need to conserve Africa’s makers about the need to conserve Africa’s natural resources natural resources

ABCG Theme Meetings Priority Setting and Site-Based Conservation Priority Setting and Site-Based Conservation Planning Planning Transboundary Natural Resource Management Transboundary Natural Resource Management Gaps and Opportunities in the Congo Basin Gaps and Opportunities in the Congo Basin Wildlife User Rights Wildlife User Rights Capacity Building Capacity Building Innovative Actions to Address the Bushmeat Innovative Actions to Address the Bushmeat Crisis Crisis

ABCG Theme Meetings (continued) Implications of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Implications of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Natural Resources and the Conservation Natural Resources and the Conservation Workforce in Africa Workforce in Africa Training for African Protected Area and Wildlife Training for African Protected Area and Wildlife Personnel: New Initiatives and Challenges Facing Personnel: New Initiatives and Challenges Facing Regional Wildlife Colleges Regional Wildlife Colleges Conservation and Conflict Conservation and Conflict Mining and Conservation Mining and Conservation

ABCG Theme Meetings (continued) Links between Poverty and Conservation in Africa Links between Poverty and Conservation in Africa ABCG and the World Parks Congress ABCG and the World Parks Congress ABCG and CITES ABCG and CITES Sustainable Financing for African Conservation Sustainable Financing for African Conservation Lessons Learned from “Nature, Wealth and Lessons Learned from “Nature, Wealth and Power” Power”

ABCG Collaborates: Bushmeat Crisis Task Force Bushmeat Crisis Task Force Inter-Agency Planning Group on Environmental Funds Inter-Agency Planning Group on Environmental Funds Community Conservation Coalition Community Conservation Coalition

Recent ABCG Analysis HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management Linkages Conducted analysis is East and Southern Conducted 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 CBNRM institutional impacts, impacts to CBNRM Presented findings at international Presented findings at international meetings meetings Starting HIV/AIDS & NRM Listserv on FRAME Starting HIV/AIDS & NRM Listserv on FRAME

Recent ABCG Analysis HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management Linkages Key Findings: Loss of capacity for conservation Loss of capacity for conservation Increased pressure on natural resources Increased pressure on natural resources Changes in land use Changes in land use Loss of traditional knowledge Loss of traditional knowledge

Nairobi Workshop

Recent ABCG AnalysisInfluence: Adoption of institutional policies on Adoption of institutional policies on HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Incorporation of HIV/AIDS activities into Incorporation of HIV/AIDS activities into conservation programs conservation programs

Upcoming ABCG Theme Meetings Tourism in African Marine Protected Areas Tourism in African Marine Protected Areas Conservation of Large African Lakes Conservation of Large African Lakes Security and Conservation in Africa Security and Conservation in Africa Human Rights and Conservation in Africa Human Rights and Conservation in Africa Impacts of Global Climate Change in Africa Impacts of Global Climate Change in Africa Adaptive Management Adaptive Management Conservation Enterprises Conservation Enterprises

Upcoming ABCG Activities Pursue information exchange and idea sharing with African partners using FRAME Pursue information exchange and idea sharing with African partners using FRAME Study effective communications methods for sharing lessons learned to influence behavior change Study effective communications methods for sharing lessons learned to influence behavior change

For more information about ABCG, contact: Nancy Gelman ABCG Program Manager co/ CI Africa Division 1919 M Street, NW Washington, DC USA co/ CI Africa Division 1919 M Street, NW Washington, DC USA phone: (202) fax: (202)