Africa: > What's New
IUCN Adopts Motion for Minimizing the Trade in Wild Caught African Cranes
On 10 November 2008, the motion that the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) submitted to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress was accepted and adopted.
This motion brings attention to the fact that wild crane populations in Africa are declining at a precipitous rate. The reasons for these declines can be attributed to many factors including habitat loss, persecution, collision with overhead power lines, and illegal removal from the wild. Cranes are being being removed from the wild for food, traditional use, domestication and the legal and illegal trade markets.
This IUCN motion calls for specific actions to be taken by all States to stem illegal trade in cranes including better regulation and enforcement of existing laws. Click here to view the entire motion,  Minimising the trade in wild caught African cranes.pdf
November 2008 African Cranes, Wetlands and Communities e-newsletter
The third edition of the African Cranes, Wetlands and Communities e-newsletter was published in September 2008. This edition is filled with exciting and interesting projects that organizations and individuals are busy with on the African continent. ACWAC newsletter_Sept 2008.pdf
CITES indicates Grey Crowned Cranes exported from Tanzania
Data obtained recently from CITES indicates that at least 4,854 Grey Crowned Cranes were exported from Tanzania during the period 1992-2002, including at least 2,692 labled as Black Crowned Cranes--a species which does not occur in Tanzania. This and other evidence suggests that the regional decline of Grey Crowned Cranes reported throughout East Africa (including the population strongholds of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda) may be largely due to trade in the species. ICF is working with colleagues in Tanzania and throughout the region to raise awareness about the impact of trade on the African crane species and upgrade these species from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.
| The North Carolina Zoo supports Uganda Crane Conservation
The North Carolina Zoo provided $2500 in grant support to Jimmy Muheebwa for his work with community-based crane and wetland conservation in southwestern Uganda. We are grateful to Ken Reininger of the NC Zoo for facilitating this important support.
October 2003
| Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Awards Funding for Kenya Wetlands Conservation and Restoration
The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund awarded $20,000 funding for the project, Kenya Wetlands Conservation and Restoration. Maurice Wanjala (Principle Investigator) and members of the Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group (KCWCG) will conduct the project, under the supervision of ICF's Richard Beilfuss and Bob Wishitemi of Moi University-Kenya. The project will focus on expanding KCWCG's exemplary model for wetland stewardship and restoration in an eight-district region of the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya through outreach and leader training, and by providing economic alternatives to activities that destroy wetlands and crane habitat. We are grateful to the Disney Foundation for this important support and their long-term commitment to our programs.
July 2003
| Researchers hosted by ICF
Jimmy Muheebwa of the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda and Maurice Wanjala of the Kipsaina Crane and Wetlands Conservation Group were hosted by the International Crane Foundation for a two-week visit to the United States in July. They presented their work at a special symposium on community-based crane and wetland conservation around the world during the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology. Maurice and Jimmy also visited several of ICF's long-term crane and wetland research sites, and met with some of Wisconsin's top environmental educators.
July 2003
| Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association visits Africa
ICF supported Charlie Luthin, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, for a three-week visit to Uganda and Kenya during January-February 2003. The goal of the trip was to provide encouragement and assistance to Jimmy Muheebwa, Maurice Wanjala, and other colleagues in the region and assess the progress and prospects for the project, Community-Based Conservation of Grey Crowned Cranes and Wetlands in the Lake Victoria Basin of East Africa. "I came to learn the true meaning of 'community-based conservation', a frequently-used but often misunderstood phrase," wrote Charlie after returning from the field. In March, the Wisconsin Wetlands Association Board voted to establish a "sister organization" relationship with the two African wetland projects. Charlie's trip report is on the Wisconsin Wetlands Association website at http://www.wiscwetlands.org/africa.htm
March 2003
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