There is also a low submission rate of elephant management plans to the department by the relevant conservation agencies. More clarity is also required on how the elephants in the country's protected areas are being managed. The department also indicated that processes are underway to establish elephant research programmes and desertification and dry-lands research programmes, although it is conventional wisdom that there are South African scientists who have long been involved in these types of research. It would be appropriate for the department to explain the context in which ongoing elephant and desertification and dry-lands research is being done.