Africa Geographic October 2007 [antikvár]

founder's note u The competition for resources between humans and wildlife will pale into insignificance in the face of human-human competition yy At the beginning of the 1980s, Africa's elephant population had peaked at about 1.3 million individuals. This was a triumph for the conservation movement, which had literally brought the species back from the brink following the 'grand era' of trophy hunting and the height of the ivory trade. The success was short-lived, however, as in the face of financial and other resource limitations, the second wave of ivory wars in many newly independent African states saw elephant numbers halved. That populations have again stabilised - and are growing in some range countries - is a further tribute to consen/ation efforts, but it would be foolish to suggest that the future of elephants in Africa is rosy. In the '80s, the human population of the continent stood at some 470 million, nearly four times what it was in 1900. And today, despite the ravages of war, poverty, malnutrition and diseases (including HIV/Aids), Africa's population is edging towards the 800 million mark and the continent has one of the fastest rates of human population growth in the worid. One doesn't have to be a scientist to understand that this represents a problem for elephants. They are big mammals that need a lot of real estate to live, but humans are also big mammals who need land and resources. Put into the mix the reality that human populations are growing apace and that the majority of elephants live outside the borders of protected areas, where they compete for the same basic food and water resources as humans, and you have a recipe for disaster. Indeed studies predictably show that human-elephant conflict is one of the major consen/ation battles of today. Perhaps consen/ation efforts will triumph yet again and creative, sustainable ways will be found for substantial numbers of elephants to live peaceably among and alongside human settlements. I hope so, and conservation professionals need every encouragement we can give them to find workable solutions. In a scenario where human populations were stable alongside those of elephants, one could feel reasonably confident of success - but this will not happen and competition for land will become ever more fierce. Of course, human-elephant conflict is ultimately just one aspect of the greater problem. With Africa's human population growing unsustalnably, the competition for resources between humans and wildlife will pale into insignificance in the face of human-human competition. I know that the mere act of broaching the subject of population will cause disapprobation . in many quarters, but Africa's leaders have to grapple with it. I am not for a nanosecond suggesting draconian population 'laws' - that would be absurd. The laws that will work, however, are those that entrench human rights, especially the right to education and the right of women to decide on the number of children they wish to bear, and when in their lives they wish to bear them. It is hard to imagine how Africa would, as a result, be a worse . place for humans, or elephants. About our magazine Africa Ceographic is editorially and financially independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Africa Ceographic strives to foster an awareness of wildlife, conservation, eco-travel, indigenous cultures and the general environment. It consistently advocates the wisest use of natural resources in a manner that involves and is of real benefit to the people of Africa. Africa Ceographic is published 11 times a year. AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC • OCTOBER 2007