This raises serious concerns as to future viability of elephant populations within the Park, and the stability of the ecological character of the park and its environs in the long-term.

Dwindling financial resources for Park management, weak technical capacity of Park authorities to manage the Park, absence of a strong surveillance system for Park protection, and limited knowledge of conservation values by the ever increasing immigrant populations within the periphery of Park has made it difficult to control illegal access to the Waza National Park.

This project focuses on reinforcing controls against poaching and illegal trade in bushmeat in and around the periphery of the Waza National Park in order to reduce imminent risks to elephant populations from increased human encroachment and poaching in the Park. During the project lifespan, the capacity of 10 recently recruited game guards to protect and secure the park shall be strengthened, anti-poaching sorties shall be reinforced and arrests intensified, while information, communications, and education program for wildlife conservation for local communities around the Park developed and implemented.

IEF funding supports improved anti-poaching initiatives, capacity building, conservation education of stakeholders, and effective management and monitoring of species through grad student allowance, media and workshop materials, field rations, and fuel.