23 March 2013: Ministers of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) representing ministries of foreign affairs, defense and security issues, regional integration and wildlife protection convened an emergency meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon and adopted an emergency anti-poaching plan (PEXULAB) to protect elephants in ECCAS countries.

The March 2013 meeting was held in response to increased poaching over the course of 2012 and a poaching event earlier that month. The meeting was preceded by a three-day long preparatory segment attended by representatives from, inter alia: Chad; the EU; Libya; the US; several UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); the Global Environment Facility (GEF); the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); USAID; as well as national and international organizations, including TRAFFIC, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), SOS Eléphants and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Participants agreed on the PEXULAB, which covers the northern region of Cameroon, Chad and the northern and north-western regions of the Central African Republic and the forest zone. Participants also called on NGOs to provide logistic, technical and financial support, collect and disseminate data and information on the fight against poaching and help in awareness raising.

In addition, the ministers of ECCAS countries adopted a statement calling on ivory consuming countries to take drastic measures to deter consumers and urging the poachers’ countries of origin to support affected countries in combating poaching. They also agreed to mobilize joint military operations to protect savannah elephants. [Congo Basin Forest Partnership Press Release] [WWF Press Release] [Declaration on the Fight Against Poaching]