FWD: KL to work with Bangkok on illegal wildlife trade

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This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/10/5/nation/9040637 & sec=nation

 

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Tuesday October 5, 2004

KL to work with Bangkok on illegal wildlife trade

BY HILARY CHIEW

 

BANGKOK: Malaysia will work with Thailand to spearhead the establishment of a

regional enforcement network to combat the illegal wildlife trade that is

threatening the survival of plants and wild animals.

 

Responding to Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra & #146;s call against

wildlife trafficking made at the opening of the 13th Conference of Parties to

the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) last week,

the head of the Malaysian delegation to the biennial meeting, Mohd Yusoff Mydin,

said:

 

& #147;We don & #146;t have a problem with that. In fact, there is already an

on-going discussion for closer co-operation between the enforcement agencies to

tackle illegal cross-border trade of wildlife cargoes. & #148;

 

Mohd Yusoff, the under-secretary of the conservation division of the Ministry

of Natural Resources and Environment, said a joint declaration on regional

co-operation was expected to be made towards the end of the 13-day meeting

attended by government officials of the 166 Cites signatories.

 

The declaration after the meeting of Asean natural resources and environment

ministers on Oct 11 was expected to focus on areas of information exchange,

capacity-building of wildlife enforcers and education and awareness programmes.

It will also signal the recognition to be accorded to wildlife trade by the

highest decision-making political forum of the region.

 

Hailed as a treasure trove of biological diversity, tropical South-East Asia is

battling an unsustainable exploitation of its wild species, exacerbated by

porous borders and the dependence of largely impoverished populations on

wildlife for food, medicine as well as hard currencies.

 

Seen as a strategic move to erase Thailand & #146;s notorious image as a vibrant

wildlife entrepot, Thaksin & #146;s announcement was nevertheless appreciated by

conservationists, some giving him a standing ovation after his speech.

 

Thaksin promised that the network would secure real and lasting solutions to

the illegal trade issue.

 

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