Conserving African elephant populations requires the integration of diverse, regionally collected datasets to create a cohesive and actionable understanding of population size, distribution, and trends. Methods such as aerial surveys, dung counts, GPS tracking, and, in dense habitats, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and DNA analysis contribute valuable data, yet they vary widely in collection approaches and settings. The African Elephant Database (AED) plays an essential role in consolidating these disparate datasets, transforming diverse data into a unified, reliable resource that informs conservation strategies. By synthesizing this information, the African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) provides critical insights to range states and international organizations like CITES, supporting evidence-based management and policy decisions. This integration-driven approach highlights the power of data integration and harmonization in addressing conservation challenges across Africa.
Dr. Veronica Lane is the Chief Data Officer (CDO) serving the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.. As CDO, Dr. Lane works on developing and implementing data policy, overseeing data governance, and developing data management practices and coordinating data strategy... Read More →
Erica Mize is an avid conservationist and self-professed conservation data champion. Erica has worked with the Service for 8 years and currently serves as the Data Management Division's Science Advisor. She's had an interesting career including experiences with parasites, plague... Read More →
Pronouns: she/her/hersLanguages spoken: EnglishDuty station time zone: CentralI serve as a Geneticist, QA/QC Specialist in the Region 3 FAC Invasive Carp eDNA Program and am based out of Whitney Genetics Lab located within the Midwest Fisheries Center. I also serve on the R3 FAC Data... Read More →
