We, the Ministers and Delegates in charge of wildlife in the Governments of our respective countries, namely

Botswana

Congo (Brazzaville)

India

Indonesia

Kenya

Sri Lanka

Thailand

United Republic of Tanzania

And with significant populations of African and Asian elephants in the wild,  and having gathered here in New Delhi on  24 May 2011 at an unprecedented  ministerial meeting to take forward the common  goal of elephant conservation and management  in all range countries;

RECOGNIZING that elephant species in both Asia and Africa are threatened in most of their range and also being aware that issues impinging on conservation, management and welfare of elephants arising because of habitat fragmentation, poaching and human-elephant conflict, are common to elephant range countries

TAKING COGNIZANCE of the existing African Elephant Action Plan, and the need to explore similar action for the Asian elephants;

ACKNOWLEDGING that the elephant is an important flagship species symbolizing the status of productivity, resilience and sustainability of the landscapes, and also embodying the long enduring cultural and traditional association of animals and peoples,

NOTING that although the conservation of elephant is primarily a national responsibility, there is urgent need to synergize national actions with international cooperation to ensure long-term conservation of the three species of extant elephants, i.e., Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis in the fifty range countries

UNDERSTANDING the existing and potential role of international agreements to promote the conservation of biological diversity and protection of rare, endangered, and unique species, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS);

ACKNOWLEDGING the work to date of the many national and international organizations including governments, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders in the field of science, research and management of wild elephants

BEING committed to our sacred obligation, duty and responsibility towards future generations, and being convinced that elephant is the symbol of the well-being, productivity, resilience and sustainability of our landscapes, we hereby recommend the following:

The E-8countries will lead the effort in respective regions to bring together the regional range States to embark upon collaborative efforts on elephant conservation, management and welfare by sharing knowledge, information, experience, skills and resources to eradicate poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of elephant ivory and other parts, and derivatives, and control wildlife crime within our own countries and in the region

That we would pursue and encourage long-term national and global programmes and actions to create awareness of the value of elephants and their habitats, and also share knowledge and experiences to reduce and mitigate human-elephant conflict

That we would engage with indigenous peoples, local communities and other stakeholders to secure their support and participation in scientific conservation and management of elephants and their habitats

That we would encourage use of the indigenous knowledge as well as improved scientific management incorporating the application of modern and innovative tools, standards, and technologies in monitoring elephants and their habitats

And to achieve the above, we E-8 countries decide to actively pursue a common agenda to ensure long-term welfare and survival of all species of elephants in all range countries, and to realize this global goal, call upon all range countries to join hands under the umbrella of “Elephant-50:50 Forum” or the shared vision of 50 States to promote conservation, management and welfare of elephants in the next 50 years.

We E-8 countries also resolve that the First International Congress of E-50:50Forum will be held in early 2013 at New Delhi, India for adopting a common global vision on conservation, management and welfare of elephants across all range countries.

Now, we E-8countries adopt this “New Delhi E-8 Recommendation” as contained herein, today on 24 May 2011 at New Delhi, India, to move ahead to realize the task that we have set for ourselves, and also appeal to the international community to join us in this first step for joint action aimed at conservation, management and welfare of the elephants of the world, and would also explore and mobilize funding, including new, innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms for the purpose.

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NSK/DB