2024
Review of African Social and Economic Development Volume 1
Review of African Social and Economic Development Volume 1In February 2024, the African Union launched its theme for the year, “Educate an African Fit for the Twenty-First Century.” This theme suggests that the average African is not fit to meet the demands of this century, which is in and of itself a symptom that reflects the continent’s precarious...
Leveraging free trade to boost Africa’s wildlife economies through wild-harvested products
Leveraging free trade to boost Africa’s wildlife economies through wild-harvested productsThe intra-Africa trade of wild products presents a unique intersection of economic opportunity and environmental conservation. With the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the potential to enhance trade among African nations has grown significantly, marking an important shift in the continent’s economic landscape. The wildlife economy...
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Drivers of hunting and photographic tourism income to communal conservancies in Namibia
Hunting and photographic tourism provide ecosystem services that can facilitate conservation. Understanding factors influencing how tourism industries generate income is necessary to ensure sustainable community-based natural resource management. We evaluated effects of large mammal occurrence and landscape attributes on incomes from hunting and photographic tourism earned by communal conservancies in...
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Consumer acceptance of cultured, plant-based, 3D-printed meat and fish alternatives
Novel food technologies, such as three-dimensional (3D) food printing and cellular agriculture, offer many opportunities in the field of meat and fish production, such as texture variety, food waste reduction, animal welfare, and personalised nutrition. Nevertheless, they still face resistance from consumers. Thus far, conventional meat and fish have yet...
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The diverse socioeconomic contributions of wildlife ranching
The diverse socioeconomic contributions of wildlife ranching are increasingly recognized as a vital element of sustainable development, particularly in the context of South Africa. However, there remains a limited understanding of how different wildlife ranching business models impact local economies and conservation efforts. This research delves into these nuances by...
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A conflict of visions: Ideas shaping wildlife trade policy toward African megafauna
The issue of wildlife trade is a major concern for the conservation of African megafauna, such as elephants, rhinos, and lions. International efforts to regulate this trade have faced significant challenges, leading to conflicts over wildlife trade policies across different countries and within the global framework of the Convention on...
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Elephant in the Room - Why a trophy hunting ban would hurt conservation and development
“Trophy hunting, if well managed, conserves wild species and habitats and enhances livelihoods in rural communities.” - Dr Francis Vorhies, AWEI Director Summary The rationale for import prohibitions or restrictions is normally protectionism, e., protecting domestic industry from foreign competitors. The rationale for the prohibition on hunting trophy imports could...
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Scaling up Africa’s elephant economy
Introduction African elephants have provided valuable products that have been traded across the world for thousands of years. As recently as the 1980s, elephant products such as ivory, hides, and meat were routinely traded in countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Small businesses in Bulawayo made wallets and...
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African Rhino Conservation - Interacting Influences
Conserving terrestrial megafauna presents distinct challenges to policymakers. Despite decades of evolving regulatory measures, wild rhinoceros populations remain threatened by illegal killing to acquire rhino horn, a valuable commodity in East Asian markets. In Africa, rhino conservation performance has varied with geography and over time. This research draws on institutional...
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AWEI Impact Report 2023
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In a complex and changing world, AWEI generates strategic ideas, conducts independent analysis on wildlife economies, and collaborates with global scholar-practitioners to provide training and expertise for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and inclusive economic opportunities in Africa.