CONSERVING WILDLIFE

CONSERVING WILDLIFE

Protecting Africa’s species is about more than numbers. True, many declining wildlife populations need to increase their numbers to survive. But equally important, they need an intact habitat where they can thrive without the growing pressures from human populations. Today, wildlife in Africa does not exist in isolation. Most wildlife populations live outside of protected areas, where they live alongside humans. Effective wildlife conservation means recognizing this complex human-wildlife dynamic and implementing programs to address the needs of both humans and animals.

AWF's Unique Approach: Real-Life Results

AWF’s species conservation programs look at species as part their natural environment. This approach is unique in three ways:

1. AWF applies research to all its work. In other words, our research goes beyond an academic look at an issue or species. We put our research to the test in all our work, including our work with bonobos, elephants, and lions.
2. AWF's wildlife researchers are African. AWF fosters the education and work of African wildlife research scientists, like our growing cadre of Charlotte Fellows.
3. AWF research is part of a larger landscape-conservation strategy in which findings immediately inform plans of action.

The Challenge

AWF’s strategy begins with conservation of habitat and ecosystems, but conserving land alone is not always enough. For many species, the biggest threat comes from people. AWF’s species conservation explores human-wildlife conflict - from the effects of poaching to patterns of predator attacks on livestock - and builds programs that benefit both humans and animals. Help AWF find new ways to conserve Africa’s wildlife for future generations.