Jake Wall - Save the Elephants El Mehdi Doumbia - DNCN ‘Aman’ A special report on the water...

Jake Wall - Save the ElephantsEl Mehdi Doumbia - DNCN

‘Aman’

A special report on the water situation in relation to elephants and

people in the Gourma, Mali


Mali Elephants• 400 - 600 in number• Isolated and northern most population in

Africa• Last population of Sahelian elephants in West

Africa• Desert dwelling and extremely rugged• Live on edge of what is ecologically viable• Valuable national heritage for Mali


Mali Elephants


Migration


“Survival Lakes”• Very few water sources exist by

month of May, especially for females with young

• Difficult to quantify water extent but know it is very limited at end of dry season

• Survival of most of population is based on access to water and forest at Banzena

• Elephants know to stay away until necessary


Banzena


“Survival Lakes”• In normal years Indaman West would have water

until April and Indianatafane until May. • Banzena always has water• This year Indaman and Indianatafane will be dry by

end of January• Banzena could dry up by April or May• Water is at same level it was in 1983 when the last

major drought occurred and lake dried completely• Rains won’t come until June


Quick bird Image (15-04-2007)Yellow track: (13-03-2007)Red track: (08-01-2009)

Banzena


Failed rains

• Uneven rainfall has prevented ground water refill of Banzena, Indaman or Indianatafane

• Rest of country has experienced high rainfall, even 60 km to North-West at Bambara Maounde (302mm in 2008 vs 287 mm in 2007)


Human Populations

• Large human and livestock populations rely on Banzena for water

• This year is particularly bad because there were good rains to north meaning good pasture which will attract more people

• Massive pressure on Banzena leading to severe degradation of environment – soil erosion, loss of forest and desertification


Current Water Sources

Forage at Banzena – last used in 2001

2nd Forage at Banzena – last used in 2001

Forage at Indaman – never used

2 diesel pumps are no longer workingfrom old age

Potable water well at Banzena is deteriorating from unknown causes


Immediate Problem

• To ensure adequate water supply for people and elephants

• To prevent human-elephant conflict by minimizing overlap if Banzena dries completely

• To reduce load on Banzena by distributing livestock and elephants over larger area


Short-term urgent needs• Verify operation of 2 forages at Banzena• Purchase new solar pumps for their operation and build

secure areas for housing them (administered by Bambara-Maounde)

• Verify operation of forage at Indaman West• Purchase solar pump and provide protection (Administered

by Indianatafane)• Dig one new forage at Mar Mar and purchase solar pump

(administered by Indianatafane)• Dig 2 new wells for herders away from Banzena• One backup diesel pump• Close monitoring of situation


Longer-term problems• Volume of livestock/people in Gourma• Soil erosion from overgrazing • Settlements within areas heavily used by elephants• Deforestation• Climate change and drying of Sahel• Unmanaged tourism• Connectivity within the elephant range


Exclusion zone south of Bambara-Maounde illustratingthe impact of livestock.


Summary• Verification by experts of 3 forages• Purchase of 4 new solar pumps• Dig one new Forage for elephants (Mar Mar)• Dig two new wells for people north and south of Banzena, outside of

Conservation Area• One backup diesel pump• Continued and close monitoring of current water situation• Management plan for people and elephants at Banzena and other

“Survival” lakes including connectivity amongst regions• Establishment of effective conservation areas and eco-tourism as revenue

for DNCN and local community• Long term environmental monitoring of soil erosion, water levels, rainfall

and climate patterns, forest cover, livestock numbers, elephant numbers and spatial distribution

Jake Wall - Save the Elephants El Mehdi Doumbia - DNCN ‘Aman’ A special report on the water...

Documents

Transcript of Jake Wall - Save the Elephants El Mehdi Doumbia - DNCN ‘Aman’ A special report on the water...