Painful lessons have been learned from the catastrophic loss of Africa's rhinos during this century. These are applicable not only to rhinos, but also to other endangered species. Perhaps the hardest lesson of all is the realization that money alone is not enough to save cherished species; poverty, corruption, ignorance, and war have been strong driving forces behind the rhinos' decline. Overcoming such constraints are largely beyond the remit of any conservation organization. And while non-governmental organizations such as WWF can assist, social and economic issues must be tackled first and foremost at local, national, and global levels of governance.

In some of the poorest nations on earth, even "shoot-to-kill" policies have not deterred people from risking their lives to poach rhinos and, in many cases, from being killed in doing so. Despite a tightening of controls, increased chances of prosecution, higher penalties, and improved understanding of the plight of rhinos, there is a continuing demand for horn for traditional Chinese medicine and dagger handles. Since poaching is generally an act of desperation driven by poverty and demand, it is worthwhile recalling that, in spite of the apparent easing of poaching pressure, the underlying causes of the rhinos' decline have not disappeared. And while investment in sanctuaries, surveillance, and better relations with neighbouring communities is a promising recipe for successful rhino conservation, it may still be insufficient should poaching begin again in earnest.

Although it is impossible to formulate a general strategy for rhino conservation that will suit all populations, in all countries, and under all circumstances, it is important for WWF to build on the lessons learned to date and to set challenging goals for the future. WWF has done just that by setting long-term population targets for all six rhino subspecies in Africa. In the rhino populations where WWF is actively involved, efforts will focus on maintaining demographic and genetic viability, and population growth rates of at least 5 per cent per annum. In some circumstances this will involve meta-population conservation strategies that require active management and movement of rhinos within and between perhaps smaller, but more secure, sub-populations. In order to assess population performance there will also be a need to establish and maintain effective biological and security monitoring in all target populations.

To achieve this and to magnify its own actions to try and ensure rapid population growth in an economically, socially, and politically sustainable manner, WWF will work with a mixture of partners, including governments, private landowners, and empowered local communities. All of these must find ways of meeting the costs of rhino conservation. Although unsustainable illegal use is clearly at the crux of rhino losses, legal, sustainable use may have a role to play in creating the necessary incentives for the rhinos' conservation. As a form of non-consumptive use, ecotourism is relatively uncontroversial and under the right circumstances can provide major benefits to both local communities and rhinos.

More radical options voiced by some include both the trophy hunting of post-reproductive males and the "harvesting" of rhino horn to supply a limited, legal trade. From 1968 to 1996, the hunting of white rhinos in South Africa generated some US$24 million in direct earnings. The sale of live black and white rhinos is also practised within South Africa, where individual animals fetch up to US$30,000 at authorized game auctions.

Since rhino horn can be safely removed and grows back again in time, it has been argued that South Africa alone has the potential to produce enough legal rhino horn to meet the demand for traditional Chinese medicine and by doing so eliminate illegal trade. Like trophy hunting, the benefits of such a strategy remain to be demonstrated before they will obtain support from the majority of conservationists or from wildlife trade-regulating bodies such as CITES.

In addition to WWF's actions in the field, it is clearly recognized that another, perhaps equally important, role must be fulfilled at the global level. Demand for rhino horn continues and there is still much to be done in East Asia and the Middle East. While working to reduce and eventually eliminate the illegal trade, the TRAFFIC network has gained important insights into its dynamics. WWF intends to use TRAFFIC's unique skills and to work more closely with consumers, medical practitioners and dagger-handle dealers, to understand their needs and to educate them about the importance of conserving viable populations of wild rhinos.

In the hope of building international commitment to Africa's rhinos, while raising awareness of the substantial investment needed to ensure their conservation, WWF also recognizes the importance of providing accurate and up-to-date information on rhino conservation efforts across the continent.

In conclusion, there are real grounds for hope for the future of African rhinos. Conservation strategies will, however, have to pay far more attention to the likely trade-offs that will come about by integrating realistic conservation goals into the social and economic development agendas of modern Africa. In the words of WWF's Raoul du Toit, "Maximum protection of rhinos is attained when, in addition to law enforcement at the national and international levels, they are supported within a social and economic environment in which they are seen locally as assets".

The challenges ahead are considerable, but building on lessons learned and the substantial successes recorded over the past few years, WWF will continue to work towards a securer future for Africa's rhinos.