Economic value of elephants

Elephants, economics and ivory environmental and resource. Second draft assessment of south african elephant management 2. According to researchers from cnrs and the french beauval nature. The impact of elephant poaching is greater than we think. Jun 20, 2019 president masisi argues that controlled big game hunting would transform the elephants into something of economic value and save them. In kenya, save the elephants is working closely with communities, local and national government, wildlife organisations and other stakeholders to find solutions for elephant and man to coexist in harmony. The publication sourced these figures from a 1994 study by david curry and helen moore. Why it makes sense to burn ivory stockpiles environment. Like any accounting system, these estimates of the economic value of the environment would need to be updated, ideally annually, if they are to remain relevant in underpinning governments decisions. Other animals, including humans, like the pygmies of the central african republic, depend on the openings elephants create in the forest and brush and in the waterholes they dig. In this broad context, we first consider the range of relevant economic values, using the total economic value approach in a generic sense, and then apply this framework to identify the specific factors that determine the economic value of elephants. The study found that over a single elephants lifetime, it distributed a million dollars among a wide range of recipients. This example shows how integrating environmental assets into economic data can help provide a new policy framing for conservation.

In botswana, however, a detailed costbenefit analysis was conducted of various options for elephant management and use. According to the world travel and tourism council, leisure tourism generated ksh 238 billion for the kenyan economy in. Analysis of the value of different potential combinations of elephant use in botswana at various times since 1989 indicates that, with the 1990 cites appendix i listing, when international trade in elephant products was effectively banned, about half of potential, economic, use values were lost. President masisi argues that controlled big game hunting would transform the elephants into something of economic value and save them. Estimating economic losses to tourism in africa from the. Elephants are the largest land mammals alive today and can be found wild in africa and asia where they are important in a variety of ways. Unwto briefing paper unwto towards measuring the economic value of wildlife watching tourism in africa areas. Ensuring the economic health of nations is one of the biggest tasks expected of governments. Elephants in dry regions are able to smell water close to the surface of the ground and use their tusks to dig small waterholes. Elephants, economics and ivory environmental and resource economics set. They have economic value, but perhaps more importantly, there is a powerful moral value. They pull down trees, break up bushes, create salt licks, dig waterholes, and forge trails.

Most countries still rely on gross domestic product as the lead measure of their economic health. New research shows investing in elephant conservation is. Barnes 1996 conducted a study on the economic value of elephants in bostwana under alternative management strategies and found viewing only to be worth. However, it seems that compensating farmers for the damages caused by elephants is essential, if this endangered species is to survive in the long run. The intrinsic value of elephants far supersede their. The wildaid media campaign makes waves with popular asian celebrities conveying its powerful message. Elephants are considered a keystone species in the african landscape. Elephant conservation brings economic value through tourism revenue. The need to protect largetusked and potentially largetusked elephants from poaching and excessive selective hunting pressure is more apparent than ever as the progressive decrease in average tusk size over the past three decades is potentially leading to over exploitation of older bulls. However, the economic value of consening it from r total economic evaluation. Cenchrus purpureus schumach, also known as napier grass, elephant grass or uganda grass, is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the african grasslands. Wildlife use for economic gain the potential for wildlife to. Across africa however these iconic creatures are being squeezed into smaller marginal areas as the continents human population rapidly expands. Pdf the economic value of elephantswith particular reference to.

But sadly, elephants are being captured illegally from the wild for. Towards measuring the economic value of wildlife watching tourism in africa briefing paper unwto 2014. Thereafter we summarize both regional southern africa and international studies. The intrinsic value of elephants far supersede their monetary value india has a moral obligation to save this global treasure. Impact of elephants on land global sanctuary for elephants. The net economic value, or consumers surplus, from an international perspective, is the subject treated in the following sections. Economic influences on elephant management in southern africa1.

The project supplements the existing research conducted by latin elephant on the spaces and practices of trade at the elephant and castle shopping centre figure 1, which. Interesting facts about elephant festival 2019 date and. The specific objectives were to a determine the importance value of es categories, b assess the reserve managers and local peoples perception of elephants presence and impacts on es, and c assess the economic importance of threatened ess and elephants damages related economic losses. The celebration of the elephant festival started in the 1960s. Elephants are a flagship species which hold a special place in the cultural traditions of central african peoples.

Wildlife use for economic gain the potential for wildlife. Elephants are a big draw for safari clients and as such are important if not critical income generators for people with few other sources. The effect of international trade prohibition, ecological economics, 18. The study found that over a single elephants lifetime, it. The current wave of ivory poaching is killing some 30,000 african elephants a year.

However, it is difficult to separate out the value of elephants alone, as compared to the attraction of other big 5 species. Standing out through pure size, inevitably elephants make a big impact both in their natural environment and with the human populations. Robin naidoo, lead wildlife scientist at wwf and lead author on the study. The economic value of elephants, with their ivory attached, is enormous. As charismatic species they awaken emotions among people like few others. This article examines the historical evidence about the abundance and geographical distribution of the asian elephant, and then discusses the economic, social and institutional dilemmas which are associated with conservation of elephants and mitigation of human elephant conflict in asia. Read article about uses of elephant grass are numerous. Nov 01, 2017 asian elephant populations in laos, which are under a process of commodification, have dropped by half in the last 30 years. The grisly economics of elephant poaching washington post. The elephant plays a number of vital roles in its ecosystem, which cannot be replicated by any other species. The main reason for this is that the economic value of elephants declines and so owners and tamers were forced to find other ways of earning from elephants. Zimbabwe national elephant management plan 20152020. This article examines the historical evidence about the abundance and geographical distribution of the asian elephant, and then discusses the economic, social and institutional dilemmas which are associated with conservation of elephants and mitigation of humanelephant conflict in asia. This dual character of the elephant as both an agricultural pest and an economic asset reflects a difficulty in classifying it as a pest or as a resource.

The relatively recent and alarming rise in the slaughter of elephants and rhinos is based on the overlapping of two socio economic phenomena, viz. The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, mammoth, and most commonly, african and asian elephants. The value of endangered forest elephants to local communities in a transboundary conservation landscape. Economic values of elephant populations the question of what economic values elephants have has been little studied. Jun 20, 2019 president masisi argues that controlled big game hunting would transform the elephants from vermin into something of economic value. The economic value of elephants with particular reference to the eastern cape. The hottest chart in economics, and what it means pbs newshour.

Global sanctuary for elephants is a 501 c3 tax exempt, public charity status ein 463564818 and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. They are also keystone species, playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. It has low water and nutrient requirements, and therefore can make use of otherwise uncultivated lands. Incorporated as a notforprofit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in geneva, switzerland, the forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The project supplements the existing research conducted by latin elephant on the spaces.

The discounting of future benefits and costs is a practice introduced from financial analysis to account for the productivity of capital. As keystone species, they contribute significantly to the integrity of ecosystems and must be very carefully managed. Value to the governing authorities and to the local people. In recent years, some environmental economists have been swayed by critics who worry that discounting implies that the concerns of the future perhaps only a few decades hence count only trivially in the calculations of the present. Popularly known as napier grass or pennisetum purpureum plays significant role for artisan textiles. Introduction namibia has a rich and rare environmental endowment, such as the ancient welwitschia plant welwitchia mirabilis, around 700 species of endemic beetles, and elephants loxodonta africana adapted to a desert conditions. Economic impact of elephant poaching is massive business. The intrinsic value of elephants far supersede their monetary. Elephants are a prime example of a species that has been valued for both consumptive and nonconsumptive values. Nov 20, 2018 in botswana, where elephants are included in the nations environmental accounts, spending on wildlife conservation is now seen as an investment, rather than a cost. Elephants in southeast asian countries like myanmar and thailand have a much different story. An art form became an industry and in a few short years china began to account for up to 70% of the global demand for ivory today. Report estimates enormous economic value of living elephants.

Oct 08, 2014 elephants are worth 76 times more alive than dead. Pdf the economic value of conserving the asian elephant. Economic impact of elephant poaching is massive business insider. Lift the hunting ban, save botswanas elephants cato institute. At an international summit in egypt this month, nations will hopefully make progress towards recognising the economic value of wildlife and.

Mar 31, 2017 media caption the facts and figures behind chinas ivory trade. The economics of africas wildlife world economic forum. Elephants play a very important ecological role, particularly in maintaining the diversity of flora and fauna and in regenerating their forest environments. Changes in the economic use value of elephant in botswana. Earlier this month in tsavo east, a heavily armed group of poachers massacred an entire family of 11 elephants, including a 2monthold baby. Socioeconomic value at the elephant and castle is a collaborative research project between latin elephant, loughborough university and the cities programme at the london school of economics and political science. To stop the poaching and create the issue of sustainability, we should consider the economic, social, and environmental impacts of elephant poaching and what can be done to stop it. The current status of the asian elephant in the wild asian elephant research and conservation centre, indian institute of science sae. However, it is difficult to separate out the value of elephants alone, as compared to the.

Does the economic value of the asian elephant to urban. Nov 19, 2018 at an international summit in egypt this month, nations will hopefully make progress towards recognising the economic value of wildlife and other environmental assets. While there have always been strong moral and ethical arguments for conserving elephants, not everyone shares this viewpoint, said dr. Ivory has been traded for hundreds of years by people in africa and asia, resulting in restrictions and bans.

From an economic perspective, they are also value generators. The world economic forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. The asian elephant elephas maxzmus is one of the worlds most seriously endangered species of large mammals. The results of the economic value of benefits from threatened es and losses due to elephants damages showed that benefits from es contribute significantly to the wellbeing of populations. The ivory trade isnt just a disaster for elephants. As icons of the continent elephants are tourism magnets, attracting funding that helps protect wilderness areas. In this broad context, we first consider the range. This would also entail regular data collection on the species and ecosystems themselves. Artwork, shea butter, tamarind balls, balanites oil, parkia mustard, and detarium powder were found to be important sources of income for local populations. Measuring the economic value of wildlife watching tourism in. Jun 29, 2017 the hottest chart in economics, and what it means economy. Current and potential economic value of wildlife 5 3. The tourism value of elephants might represent less money overall, but its.

Elephants are a charismatic species but can also be destructive when they destroy crops, threaten livestock and even human lives. Welwitchia mirabilis, around 700 species of endemic beetles, and elephants loxodonta africana adapted to a desert conditions. Estimates of total economic value combine willingness of. Uses of elephant grass napier grass artisan textiles. Other ngos are committed to combatting demand for ivory in the east. Economic value of elephant tourism and elephant products is also. We conclude that policymakers must recognise and take account of the importance of nonuse values of the asian elephant, if this endangered species is to survive in the long run. Elephants, economics and ivory environmental and resource economics set barbier, edward b. The killings get more and more viciousand more brazen. The question of what economic values elephants have has been little studied. Perceived effects of elephants loxodonta africana cuvier. The greater the value, the greater the tolerance of them is likely to be. The elephant in the room has long been the health of the environment, on which the health of the economy and everything else ultimately depends. Benefits of elephants elephants are a key species in the tourism industry, especially for the international market.

Because this figure covers only a small number of countries and is based on some inconclusive data, it can. This is a tragic loss to the surviving members of each elephant s family, and to the potential revenues from. In economics, the importance of total economic valuation of wildlife and other natural resources is increasingly recognized. Pdf the economic value of elephantswith particular. Read changes in the economic use value of elephant in botswana.

Socio economic value at the elephant and castle 2018 is a collaborative research project which supplements the existing research conducted by latin elephant on the spaces and practices of trade at the elephant and castle shopping centre. Socio economic value at the elephant and castle is a collaborative research project between latin elephant, loughborough university and the cities programme at. We conclude with an assessment of the state of knowledge on elephants contribution to the economic value of elephant containing ecosystems and the economy as a whole. Nevertheless, the nonconsumptive use value of elephants in sri lanka is also found to be substantial. Oct 27, 2015 the intrinsic value of elephants far supersede their monetary value india has a moral obligation to save this global treasure. If you look at the last 25 years, economic history was relegated to the very lowest rank of anything that.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. However, proponents of ivory trade claim that for africans to conserve elephants economic value is needed. We conclude with an assessment of the state of knowledge on elephants contribution to the economic value of elephantcontaining ecosystems and the economy. Gabon burned tens of thousands of pounds of ivory, culled from 850 elephants, just last year. It helped the elephant trade collapse, which led to the decline of the average annual number of elephants killed by poaching from 3,500 elephants per year in kenya in the early 1980s, to about 50 in 1993. Our research now shows that investing in elephant conservation is actually smart economic policy for many african countries. The ban on ivory changed the economic environment for elephants.