Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Asian Governments should start more impressive Public Awareness and Enforcement drive. Sandeep On Mon, 30 May 2005 Michelle Desilets wrote : >ASEAN combats illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia > >26 May 2005 >Jakarta, Indonesia – In an unprecedented move against >Southeast Asia’s illegal and unsustainable trade in >wildlife, delegates from the ten members of the >Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have >agreed upon a five-year action plan to combat threats >to the region’s rich biological diversity. > >“It is extremely encouraging to see the action plan >already in place,” said James Compton, TRAFFIC >Southeast Asia’s Regional Director. > >“It is an ambitious programme of work, but if the >leadership shown by the ASEAN countries can be matched >by some of the region’s key consumer partners in East >Asia, Europe, and North America, there is incredible >potential to achieve large-scale partnerships that can >impact both biodiversity conservation and sustainable >development in the Asian region.” > >The illegal and unsustainable trade in wild animals >and plants in the region continues to drive critical >threats to the survival of a large number of >threatened species. Birds and reptiles for the pet >trade, luxury items made of ivory and hawksbill turtle >shell products, as well as highly-valued medicines >such as musk, tiger bone and ginseng are all in high >demand as the economic growth in the wider Asian >region has continued to increase. > >Recent seizures of smuggled species listed under the >UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered >Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in a number of >countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and >Vietnam illustrate not only increased enforcement >effort in these countries, but the persistently large >volume of illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia. > >The newly endorsed ASEAN Regional Action Plan on Trade >in Wild Fauna and Flora provides a solid framework >agreement for collaboration between the ten member >countries. Specifically, it addresses common issues of >enhanced law enforcement networking, inter-agency >co-operation, strengthened national legislation, and >increasing the availability of scientific information >to guide wildlife trade management by CITES >authorities. > >“This initiative is remarkable because of the >diversity of nations involved, and the tremendous >commitment and cooperation this shows to focus >together on the wildlife trade, " said Dr Susan >Lieberman, Director of the WWF Global Species >Programme. > >The regional Action Plan also prioritizes engagement >with civil society to raise awareness of issues of >legality and sustainability with industry groups, >traders, and local communities involved in wildlife >trade. > >“Mainstreaming these issues should ensure that legal >and sustainable trade is prioritized at the national >levels in ASEAN member countries,” said Dr Samedi from >Indonesia's CITES Management Authority, which hosted >the special meeting of the ASEAN experts group. > >“Cracking down on illegal trade will require >cooperation not only between ASEAN countries, but will >depend on strong links with the region’s major trading >partners.” > >NOTES: >• TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network – a >joint programme of WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation >Union – works to ensure that trade in wild plants and >animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. > > >• TRAFFIC’s work assisting the ASEAN Experts Group on >CITES has been supported by the UK Foreign and >Commonwealth Office’s Global Opportunities Fund and >WWF International’s Species Programme. > >• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered >Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates >international trade in more than 30,000 species of >wild animals and plants. CITES regulates international >trade in species by including species on one of its >Appendices. Appendix I bans commercial trade in >species threatened with extinction. Appendix II >regulates international trade in species whose >survival in the wild may be threatened if levels of >trade are not regulated. > >For more information: >James Compton, Director >TRAFFIC Southeast Asia >Tel: +60 3 7880 3940 >E-Mail: james.compton > >Maija Sirola, Communications Coordinator >TRAFFIC International >Tel: +44 1223 277427 >E-Mail: maija.sirola > >Joanna Benn, Communications Manager >WWF Global Species Programme >Tel: +44 22 364 9093 >E-Mail: Jbenn >http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news.cfm?uNewsID=20850 > > >Michelle Desilets >Director >BOS UK >www.savetheorangutan.org.uk >www.savetheorangutan.info > " Primates Helping Primates " > >Please sign our petition to rescue over 100 smuggled orangutans in Thailand: >http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/822035733 > > > >_________ >How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday >snaps for FREE with Photos http://uk.photos. > > > >For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at: aapn >Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at aapn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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