Game rangers and the
military in Cameroon have confiscated over
100 kilograms of elephant ivory hidden in
a truck transporting cocoa. Authorities
say four people have been arrested in the
case, including a businessman believed to
have arranged for the transportation of
the ivory.
The seizure was conducted
Monday near Lobéké National
Park in Southeast Cameroon, close to the
country’s borders with Congo and Central
African Republic. Cameroon has increased
law enforcement in the area around Lobéké
and Nki National Parks recently in response
to high levels of elephant poaching and
ivory trade.
“This is the second
time this year that large amount of ivory
tusks has been discovered on trucks transporting
cocoa,” said Nzooh Zacharie, WWF’s project
manager in Lobéké. “In February
a truck transporting 300 bags of cocoa and
20 ivory tusks was impounded in Ntam, southwest
of Nki National Park.” The perpetrators
in that case were sentenced to six months
in prison, although one remains at large
after skipping bail.
This new seizure is as an opportunity for
the judiciary to mete out severe sanctions
against the suspects, which can serve as
a deterrent to others. The four suspects
are being detained pending trail.
“We believe ivory trafficking
would be significantly reduced if Cameroon’s
judiciary applies sanctions as laid down
by the law,” said David Hoyle, WWF Cameroon
Conservation Director. “The soft sentences
so far handed out to poachers by the courts
have not helped the Ministry of Forestry
and Wildlife's efforts to deter poachers.”
The seizure brings to about 100 the number
of ivory tusks confiscated this year from
poachers around Lobéké and
Nki parks. Some 65 people have been detained
since January on ivory trafficking and other
poaching related charges.
On September 1, rangers
supported by the Cameroon rapid intervention
brigade captured a notorious poacher who
allegedly confessed to having killed more
than 70 elephants in the area.
Lobéké
park warden Mounga Albert Abana says this
anti-poaching push will boost the morale
of game rangers who were extremely demoralized
following the murder of their colleague
Achille Zomedel by poachers on September
27.
“We are more than ever
determined to crack this vicious network
of poachers who have been decimating elephants
in the region,” Mounga said.
Up to an estimated 12,000 elephants are
lost to poaching each year to supply the
illegal ivory trade. Most of the killings
are believed to occur in Central Africa
where law enforcement and deterrents are
sometimes weak. WWF provides technical and
logistical support to Cameroon’s Ministry
of Forestry and Wildlife and to other Central
African governments to help fight poaching.
+ More
Insurance sector key
to China meeting renewable energy targets
Beijing, China – A report
published today by WWF and RSA states that
China may not be able to tap fully into
its renewable energy potential due to lack
of an insurance system for the sector.
The aim to reduce CO2
emissions by 45% and generate 15% of energy
from non-fossil sources by 2020 has positioned
China as the fastest growing renewable market
in the world. However, the development of
China’s wind energy industry has grown so
rapidly that local insurers have not been
able to keep up the pace. Insurance is needed
to cover risks related, for example, to
natural disasters, mechanical failures or
operational activities.
Opportunities and Challenges
The report Wind Energy Insurance in China:
Opportunities & Challenges has found
that more than 80% domestic insurers and
wind energy companies are not developing
insurance products to meet the demand of
nearly 40,000 turbines and a predicted increase
of 10,000 per annum.
In other regions, such as North America
and Europe, insurers have been working with
wind energy companies for over three decades,
offering products that cover all elements
of their operations.
By establishing an effective
insurance system and involving international
insurers on complex risks, China’s wind
energy industry could increase capacity
and benefit from know-how exchange.
Use all financial tools that can boost renewable
energy
“Wind energy has high potential for low
carbon development but it’s not risk free.
As technology continues to develop and we
see bigger wind turbines, experienced insurers
are needed to understand, manage and reduce
the potential risks”, said Elton Chang,
CEO of RSA China. “The technical support
of insurers is paramount for the growth
of the sector, especially as further growth
is expected in offshore wind energy.”
“WWF envisions a future in which 100% of
energy will be from renewable sources by
2050. To support this goal, it is important
that we use all financial tools that can
boost renewable energy. Insurers play a
significant role to mitigate risk, reduce
financial costs and increase investments
in this crucial sector”, said Dr. Li Lin,
Deputy Country Representative at WWF China.
