President Kenyatta's official opening of The Giants Club Summit 2016

(Space for Giants)

Six months ago, Space for Giants started work organising the Giants Club Summit, held at the end of April at the Mount Kenya Safari Club. President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya hosted the Africa-led event, along with fellow Giants Club members President Ali Bongo of Gabon, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and senior representatives of President Ian Khama of Botswana.

The aim was to bring together African Heads of State, global business leaders, conservation experts and key influencers to provide the political will, financial resources and technical capacity that are so urgently required to ensure a future for elephants and the landscapes they depend on, forever.

"What we experienced at the Giants Club Summit is the start of an African conservation revolution," says Max Graham, CEO of Space for Giants. "We have always said that what is key to better protection of elephants and their landscapes, and to ending the illegal wildlife trade, is greater political will from Africa's leaders and during the Summit we saw the clearest possible demonstrations of that commitment. We have also seen substantial financial commitments being made, which will allow the Giants to achieve what they have set out to do."

Together, the Giants Club member states are home to more than half of Africa’s remaining savannah elephants, and three quarters of its remaining forest elephants. Actions agreed at the Summit will give these populations the greatest chance to thrive for generations to come.

To watch President Kenyatta's address at the Summit, click here.

For more information please go to: http://spaceforgiants.org/giantsclub/

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