National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP 2.0) (2023-2030).

The National Elephant Conservation Action Plan is a sectoral framework designed to promote human-elephant coexistence and guide the conservation of Asian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. It outlines strategic planning and implementation measures, assessing the status of both wild and captive elephant populations, while addressing key threats and challenges. The Plan envisions wild elephants thriving across their current and recoverable range in Peninsular Malaysia while coexisting with people in an ecologically functional landscape. Its main goal is to ensure healthy, sustainably managed elephant populations through shared responsibility across all levels of society. To realize this vision, the Plan sets out 5 objectives, 11 strategies, and 30 actionable steps for implementation at the state level. NECAP 2.0 lays out a comprehensive and strategic approach to ensure the long-term survival of Asian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia, with a focus on coexistence between humans and elephants. The main objectives are (i) the preservation and restoration of elephant habitats and corridors. By reconnecting fragmented landscapes and encouraging sustainable land-use practices, the Plan aims to safeguard critical movement routes for elephants while promoting low-impact resource extraction that minimizes ecological disruption; (ii) reduce the impact of human-elephant conflict to levels that support the broader goal of coexistence. This involves both mitigating damage caused by elephants and increasing public tolerance and understanding, especially in areas where elephant presence is frequent; (iii) more effective enforcement of wildlife laws, improved legal provisions, and greater community involvement in enforcement efforts; (iv) expanding the scientific knowledge base on elephant behaviour, population dynamics, and how elephants respond to human activities. It also prioritizes the sharing of research findings and regular monitoring of conservation efforts; (v) improve the governance of captive elephant management. The Plan outlines actions to improve the standards of care and overall husbandry practices, ensuring that elephants in captivity are managed ethically and effectively. Implementation of NECAP 2.0 will continue through to 2030, in alignment with national development planning cycles. Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted at three key levels: (1) the State Elephant Conservation Action Committee (SECAC), (2) the National Technical Committee on Elephant Conservation (NTCEC), and (3) the National Committee on Elephant Conservation (NCEC). A formal review and revision of the Plan will also be carried out as part of this process.