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The study concludes that greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions contributed to the increased intensity and probability of heavy rainfall during the 2022 tropical storm events in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. While Tropical Storm Ana was a rare 1-in-50-year event for Mozambique and Malawi, Cyclone Batsirai was a more common 1-in-2-year event for Madagascar. The humanitarian impact was severely amplified by compound factors, including preceding floods, existing droughts in southern Madagascar, and high socio-economic vulnerability. Despite accurate forecasting by regional meteorological centers, infrastructure damage and a lack of trust in warnings hindered effective responses.

Vultures act as essential waste management specialists that maintain ecosystem sanitation and human health by consuming carrion and neutralizing pathogens like anthrax. In Zimbabwe, WWF and partners are collaring white-backed vultures to track movement patterns, monitor environmental health, and detect poaching activities. The document highlights the global decline of vulture populations and the specific biological traits of species such as the bone-eating bearded vulture.

Ecological connectivity allows animals to move freely to find food and breed, sustaining natural processes that provide clean air, soil, and water. Human activities—including infrastructure development, deforestation, and overfishing—fragment these habitats, leading to human-wildlife conflict and ecosystem breakdown. Climate change further necessitates connectivity as species must move to adapt to shifting environments. WWF implements restoration strategies such as wildlife corridors and sustainable land-use planning, exemplified by projects in Borneo, Southern Africa, the Mekong region, and the Terai Arc. To scale these efforts, WWF co-created the Wildlife Connect initiative with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation and the IUCN WCPA.

The 2022 KAZA Elephant Survey estimated a total population of 227,900 elephants across the KAZA TFCA, with the majority located in Botswana (58%) and Zimbabwe (29%). The survey also identified 26,641 elephant carcasses, resulting in an all-carcass ratio of 10.47%, which the authors suggest may be a "warning sign for the health and stability of the elephant population." Beyond elephants, the survey estimated populations for various wildlife species and domestic livestock, noting a ratio of 1.16 wild animals to 1 domestic animal in the survey area. The report details the technical execution of the survey, including the use of systematic transect sampling across 179 strata and the implementation of CITES MIKE Aerial Survey Standards.

The project successfully established foundational content for national planning and fostered inclusive dialogue across six countries, though it faced challenges with ambitious targets relative to its budget and timeline. While most output targets were met, the evaluation noted weaknesses in the integration of knowledge products and inconsistencies in the global monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. Gender mainstreaming was a strong design priority, with significant achievements in Nepal and Namibia, although qualitative impact measurements were lacking. Sustainability is rated as moderately likely, contingent on securing long-term financial support and maintaining political will for the implementation of the resulting national plans and the recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

The report details various wildlife conservation initiatives, including the restoration of plains bison in the Northern Great Plains of North America and the monitoring of elephant populations in southern Africa's KAZA region. It highlights population increases for tigers in India and Bhutan, as well as the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and air-sampling technology to monitor rare species and combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

The Khetha program addresses illegal wildlife trafficking in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) through a multi-sectoral approach involving community engagement, law enforcement support, and cross-border collaboration. Funded by USAID and implemented by WWF South Africa and WWF Mozambique between 2018 and 2022, the program aims to maintain positive growth rates for elephants and increase growth rates for black and white rhinos. It focuses on mitigating the socio-economic drivers of poaching—such as poverty and historical forced relocations—by improving community livelihoods and governance. Additionally, it provides technical training and infrastructure to the judiciary and law enforcement in Mozambique and South Africa to enhance the detection and prosecution of wildlife crimes.

The document argues for a shift away from destructive virgin mining toward circular economies and strategic land-use planning in Africa. It highlights the risks transition mineral extraction poses to water security, food supply, carbon sinks, and biodiversity, while calling for the formalisation of artisanal mining and the enforcement of labour rights. The paper recommends that mining licences be contingent on guaranteed funding for rehabilitation and that international cooperation, including traceability frameworks and fair finance, be established to prevent the 'resource curse'.