News & Events

Togo has become the latest African nation to join the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), a growing alliance across the continent dedicated to preserving elephant populations and promoting peaceful coexistence between elephants and humans. With its addition, there are now 24 countries in the EPI collective.

Togo’s Minister of Environment and Forest Resources, Katari Foli-Bazi, has been applauded for his commitment to protecting biodiversity and combatting illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking. By joining the EPI, Togo is signalling its political will at the highest levels to take concrete steps for elephant conservation within its borders.

Togo’s elephant population have declined drastically in recent decades due to poaching and human encroachment into protected areas. According to the 2016 African Elephant Status Report, only small scattered herds remain in Togo. By banding together with other African nations in the EPI, Togo hopes to collaborate on enforcement and monitoring to better secure its existing elephant populations. Other EPI members will provide financial and technical support to help Togo strengthen protections in areas like Fazao Malfakassa National Park.

Read the original article here: https://www.environewsnigeria.com/togo-emerges-24th-nation-to-join-the-elephant-protection-initiative/

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will attend the Non-Aligned Movement Heads of State Summit in Kampala, Uganda from January 19-20, 2024 as a Special Guest. The Non-Aligned Movement shares 44 of its 120 members with the Commonwealth and works to advance the shared interests of developing countries.

During the visit, Secretary-General Scotland will consult with Commonwealth country leaders on economic and environmental challenges and collaborate on tailored assistance strategies. She will brief leaders on preparations for the October 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.

Scotland thanked Uganda’s President Museveni for the invitation and commended his leadership as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement. The summit’s theme is ‘deepening cooperation for shared global affluence’. Many developing countries have made progress but now face crises like COVID-19, debt, inflation, and climate change.

Read the original article here: https://www.independent.co.ug/commonwealth-secretary-general-to-attend-nam-summit/