Posted on 11 February
2014 | London: World leaders should come
prepared to take strong action when they
attend this week’s London Conference on
Illegal Wildlife Trade.
The two-day event is
an opportunity for governments to commit
to finally ending the illegal trade in elephants,
rhinos, tigers and other wildlife.
The current poaching
epidemic impacts the world’s most iconic
species. The number of rhinos poached in
South Africa alone increased to over 1,000
last year from only 13 six years ago.
There are as few as
3,200 tigers remaining in the wild, and
over 20,000 African elephants were illegally
killed in 2012.
Priority issues to be
addressed in London include strengthening
law enforcement and criminal justice, reducing
demand for illegal wildlife products, and
supporting sustainable livelihoods for communities
that live alongside wildlife.
“We are in the middle
of a poaching crisis. The London Conference
is the perfect opportunity for governments
to show that they take this problem seriously,”
said Heather Sohl, chief species adviser
at WWF-UK.
“Any measures agreed
in London must be backed up at home by delivering
actions equal to the challenge.”
Last month, the UN Security
Council took a strong stand against the
illegal wildlife trade by specifically targeting
wildlife traffickers in two separate sanctions
regimes.
WWF and TRAFFIC expect
governments attending the conference to
seize on this positive momentum by agreeing
on a declaration that details the next steps
in this global fight.
“Governments must use
the London Conference to establish a road
map for the response to the poaching threat,”
said Steven Broad, executive director of
TRAFFIC.
“We need a clear description
of what actions will be taken and by whom.
Most importantly, we need firm commitments
to supply the financial, human and technical
resources needed to ensure success.”
Illegal wildlife trade
is a global problem, but its roots are local.
WWF and TRAFFIC are also calling on governments
at the London Conference to announce national-level
actions to tackle poaching and reduce the
demand for wildlife goods.
The London Conference
takes place from 12-13 February.
The event is being hosted
by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign
Secretary William Hague and Secretary of
State for the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson. WWF-UK
president, HRH The Prince of Wales and his
son HRH The Duke of Cambridge will also
attend London Conference events.
