The illegal wildlife trade – the fourth largest black market in the world – should be treated with the same rigor as narcotics and human trafficking, a declaration, signed by nearly 50 countries during a conference in London said.
Attended by delegates from more than 70 countries last week, the two-day London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) 2018, aimed at building a consensus on a range of issues focused on stamping out the global wildlife trade.
Governments agreed that the illegal wildlife trade has emerged as a threat to national and regional security. The trade is “resulting in cross-border incursions with networks that also support money-laundering, weapons, drugs and human trafficking including modern slavery,” the declaration maintained.
Expressing concern over the scale of the trade, delegates agreed that the illegal wildlife trade has turned into a highly organized racket and is “taking place on an industrial scale.”
“They [criminal gangs involved in wildlife trade] target some of the poorest countries in the world, spreading corruption and depriving governments of desperately needed revenues that could be used for schools and hospitals,” Jeremy Hunt, UK's foreign secretary told the conference.
In the last few years, African countries are witnessing massive poaching of iconic animals, including elephants and rhinos. A recent Save the Elephants report revealed how the illegal wildlife market is flourishing in conflict-prone Myanmar and low economy nations like Laos.
Blocking cash flows
Governments in a joint decision decided to tackle transnational wildlife crimes by “deploying the full range of public and private tools, legal frameworks.”
Delegates also agreed on tracing bank accounts, transactions and cash flows supporting the wildlife trade.
“We will increase action to tackle the illicit financial flows associated with wildlife trafficking and related corruption, including the increase of use of financial investigation techniques and public/private collaboration to identify criminals and their networks,” the declaration stated.
The UK has already formulated a strategy for cutting off such financial transactions. The government has put together a task force – comprised of 30 leading global banks and regulatory bodies – to control the global illegal wildlife trade.
The initiative will focus on increasing the use of sanctions like freezing, seizing assets, and visa bans. It will also intensify investigations into money laundering and tax evasion to disrupt criminal networks profiting from wildlife trade.
Livelihood programs and capacity building for communities affected by wildlife trade
The governments at the conference committed to supporting sustainable livelihoods as an alternative for communities involved in illegal wildlife trading.
“We recognize the essential engagement role and rights of local communities and indigenous people to ensure a sustainable solution to addressing the illegal wildlife trade,” they said. They also recognized the importance of local communities to protected species and natural habitats.
The decision was also taken to enhance capacity building for wildlife management departments to protect the crucial transboundary habitat of species threatened by poachers. These departments would be provided with surveillance equipment and training to deter poachers and smugglers.
“The Illegal Wildlife Trade is having a devastating impact on both endangered wildlife and the world's poorest people,” Penny Mordaunt, the UK International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, said
Mordaunt also announced around 46 million US dollars in aid to protect critical forest habitats and species threatened by extinction, including the chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, and tiger.
(Top Image: Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge hosts the signing ceremony of United for Wildlife's Financial Taskforce Declaration at Mansion House in London on October 10, 2018)