Publication

This paper synthesizes relevant economic literature on elephant conservation to create a model to demonstrate which combination of strategies would yield the most efficient allocation of capital for conservation efforts for these animals in Africa. In particular, the author contends that three main strategic governance options are available. These are 1) to reduce demand in ivory; 2) to reduce poaching in range states, that is those countries in which elephants cover in their migratory routes and 3) to ban domestic trade in ivory in range states. The author also discusses what each of these efforts could involve and contends that it would be best to reduce demand and poaching first, and then implement domestic bans later.