A multistakeholder exercise to identify research and conservation priorities for Asian elephants in China

• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01561
• Publication Date: 2021-03-30T23:46:08Z
• Authors: Shu Chen; Guo-Zheng Sun; Yun Wang; Cheng Huang; Ying Chen; Peng Liu; Yun Deng; Da-Fan Cao; Ming-Xia Zhang; Saylin Ong; Zhong-Yuan Zhang; Hong-Pei Yang; Qiao-Yan Wang; Bin Wang; Xuan Zheng; Yuan Lei; Chun Li; Jing Sun; Ming-Wei Bao; Zi-Cheng Yang; Lei Guan; Ya-Kuan Sun; Fang-Yi Zhou; Jing-Xin Liu; Li-Li Li; Fang Wang; Richard T. Corlett; Rui-Chang Quan; Ming-Yong Chen; Li Zhang; Kun Shi; Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz
• Keywords: Asian elephant; Flagship Species

China is home to a small but expanding population of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Both research interest and conservation efforts have increased in recent years, these been fragmented. Here we present the results from collaborative, multi-sectorial, multi-stakeholder exercise identify priorities for Chinese elephant conservation. We first compiled comprehensive list issues, categorized under nine themes, through an on-line survey stakeholders. These issues were subsequently consolidated, timelined (as short-, mid-, or long-term issues), ranked by their perceived priority two-day workshop attended 44 people representing 28 organizations. The initial 656 (337 319 conservation) was consolidated into 251 (121 130 issues. After ranking, retained top-three within each theme (making total 55 due tie), which are then discussed detail this paper. Most (87%, n = 55) classified as short-term, suggesting that might succeeded identifying current priorities, not emerging require attention future. Some appeared various forms different themes. Among questions, participants highlighted importance understanding carrying capacity range habitats, movement patterns expected changes, drivers human-elephant conflict (HEC), improvements HEC financial compensation mechanism, ways engaging local communities mitigation. Regarding conservation, recurrent included effectively communities, improving early-warning systems mechanisms, establishing new national park range, creating mechanisms communication collaboration among stakeholders China. Our effective experts diversity sectors organizations discussions about China, generated can help guide efforts.