About This Project

BSc student Silvester Chimunhu has been invited to present his work with GIS applications on elephant poaching data gathered in Matusadona NP, Zimbabwe at the 5th International EcoSummit Congress. His work has demonstrated the importance of GIS in improving endangered species management & how it can be used to tackle the ever-growing issue of poaching. Funding is needed to send him to the EcoSummit to share his findings & create much needed awareness.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

It is estimated that some 35,000 elephants are lost to poaching across Africa every year. The international demand of ivory, poverty, and a lack of resources for many protected areas has resulted in an exponential increase of poaching in Southern Africa. The elephant population of the Sebungwe region in Zimbabwe has suffered a 75% loss since 2001. Matusadona NP alone has lost 61% of its elephants in this time period. Poaching for ivory is the single biggest threat to elephants in Matusadona NP.

In an age of ever-changing and advancing technologies it is crucial applications such as GIS are utilised and adopted where possible to improve and assist the effectiveness of protected area management including anti-poaching efforts.

What is the significance of this project?

Using GIS modelling on existing poaching data (2005 – 2015), poaching “hotspots” have been identified & the prediction of poaching activities within the park has improved. Evaluating poaching events in a spatial context directly assists with the management of anti-poaching exercises undertaken by ZPWMA.

The use of GIS in species management can be implemented in other wildlife areas within Zimbabwe & beyond, making this project critically important in the battle against ivory poaching.

Presenting these findings at the 5th International EcoSummit Congress will create much needed awareness towards the issue of poaching in this neglected area of Zimbabwe & will highlight the importance of GIS in species & wildlife area conservation

What are the goals of the project?

Neither the University of Zimbabwe or ZPWMA have the financial resources to support Silvester with this trip. Therefore ALERT, are seeking funding to send him to Montpellier, France to present his work. Here he will represent an elephant range country & an incredibly important wildlife region in need of international recognition & support to tackle a prolific poaching problem. This presentation not only provides a local student an opportunity to take his career in conservation forward but it will also help to bring ZPWMA & Matusadona NP to the attention of the world. Through this awareness building & by demonstrating the efforts already being made to fight against poaching it is hoped applications for funding for anti-poaching may be more successful.