Elephants play an important role in maintaining the health of their habitats. They’re important grazers and browsers, eating huge amounts of food every day, which helps to shape the often-thick vegetation of their Asian landscapes. And their habitats - when healthy - provide important resources for both wildlife and people.

So, by conserving the Asian elephant, we’re making sure their habitat continues to flourish for the benefit of all.
 

So what is WWF doing?

Through the Asian Rhinos and Elephants Action Strategy (AREAS), WWF is helping to conserve the remaining elephant populations and their habitats. And to improve connections between fragmented areas where Asian elephants live.

We're working with governments and local communities to reduce conflict between people and elephants. And we’re influencing policy and legislation to benefit elephant conservation.

WWF is also tackling poaching by working with the authorities to improve the enforcement of laws on the illegal trade in elephants and their parts. And collaborating with TRAFFIC to reduce demand for ivory in consumer markets - all part of the global Wildlife Crime Initiative.

And we’re helping improve the livelihoods of people living alongside elephants, through activities that link economic development with elephant conservation. That way, people can see the benefits of keeping elephants alive, and their habitat intact, so they’ll want to conserve rather than harm this magnificent animal.
 

Reversing the decline from India to Indonesia

AREAS believes that a balance can be struck so that wild species get the secure core areas and forest corridors they need, while people can pursue agriculture, forestry and other forms of land-use in a more planned and sustainable manner.

It is an ambitious programme that brings together cutting-edge conservation biology with trade monitoring, socio-economic analysis, state-of-the-art mapping and policy advocacy - and promises new hope for Asia's dwindling populations of elephants.

And the successful conservation of AREAS priority landscapes will not only safeguard a future for Asia’s wild elephants and rhinos, but also protect countless other endangered animals, including tigers and orang-utans.
 

Main objectives

WWF's programme aims to conserve elephants and their habitats by:
 

• Restoring and securing key wildernesses;
• Strengthening antipoaching efforts;
• Mitigating conflicts over natural resources to benefit both humans and elephants;
• Facilitating creative land-use planning to solve problems facing wildlife and people; and
• Monitoring populations to improve management strategies for Asian elephants.

By adopting this broad and innovative approach, the AREAS progamme aims to halt the loss of elephants and their core habitats across the region.