wildlife trafficking in SE Asia--article

[Guest guest]

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

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

 

 

 

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