RECORD POACHING DRIVES AFRICAN ELEPHANTS INTO DECLINE
Geneva - Killing of elephants driven by the illegal ivory trade has reached crisis levels in Africa, new information released today says. Across Africa elephants are being driven into decline due to poaching for their tusks, according to a report issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Data from the report shows increased poaching across the entire range of the African elephant, but the highest rates are in Central Africa. “The rise in levels of illegal killing and the dynamics surrounding it are worrying, not only for small and fragmented elephant populations that could face extirpation, but also for previously secure large populations,” the report says.
Last year is cited as having the highest poaching rates ever documented, exceeding record rates witnessed in 2010. It is estimated that tens of thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their tusks, which are in demand in Asia. East Africa is identified in the report as the centre of illicit ivory transport to Asia, with an escalating number of illegal consignments exiting seaports there.
“Alarmingly, 2011 recorded the highest number of large-scale seizures ever,” said Lamine Sebogo, WWF’s African elephant programme manager. “Such seizures indicate the involvement of organized criminal networks, but very few cases have been followed up with proper investigations, arrests, prosecutions or the imposition of credible penalties.”
This scale of illegal ivory trade was demonstrated early in 2012, when a gang of heavily armed foreign poachers entered Cameroon and killed hundreds of elephants in Bouba N’Djida National Park. This event, and others like it, constitutes an invasion and a threat not only to wildlife but people, territorial integrity and stability.
Poor governance and weak law enforcement efforts have been identified as the primary drivers of elephant poaching and ivory trade in Africa, according to the report that will be considered by governments later this month at a key CITES meeting. China and Thailand are identified in the findings as the two biggest raw ivory consuming countries in the world. Data indicates that poaching trends can be correlated with increasing affluence in China, and that raw ivory prices doubled there between 2004 and 2010.
“In the last two years we have seen open flouting of China’s internal ivory trade laws,” said Dr Colman O’Criodain, WWF’s wildlife trade policy analyst. “Many visitors, including foreign government representatives attending CITES-related meetings in China, have reported seeing ivory openly on sale without the required certification cards that prove legality of origin.”
The Chinese market remains the most prominent destination for illicit ivory, and a serious slackening of enforcement of country’s strict internal trade controls is a major cause for concern. In Thailand, legislative loopholes mean that there is no effective regulation at all.
“In Thailand there is no regulation of ivory trade. Visitors can see ivory openly on sale, the vast bulk of it apparently of African origin,” O’Criodain says. “It is a crime to bring ivory home from another country, even if shopkeepers tell you otherwise.”
“It is imperative that CITES member states take remedial actions to shut down unregulated or poorly regulated domestic ivory markets, especially the world's largest markets in China and Thailand,” said O’Criodain.
One hopeful sign in the fight to save elephants is the recent adoption by Central African countries of an action plan to combat wildlife crimes including elephant poaching and illegal ivory.
“We commend Central African governments for taking action to safeguard their natural heritage through developing this plan. We call on government leaders to implement the plan as a matter of urgency and encourage the international community to provide financial support to this end ,” Sebogo said.
EW DECLARATION IN AUSTRANLIA PROTECTS 1.1 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN
Home to incredible marine species such as whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and spectacular corals, the world’s biggest network of marine protected areas (MPAs) was declared by Australia this week. This newly established MPA covers more than 1.1 million square miles of ocean.
Within our stunningly diverse oceans, MPAs protect habitats such as coral reefs and sea grass beds from destructive fishing practices. They allow depleted fish populations to recover and provide refuge for endangered species such as marine turtles. They also provide food security for people who rely on the ocean for their daily sustenance and livelihoods.
Australia’s announcement sets a global precedent for ocean protection as countries prepare to meet for Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, next week. It also follows California's decision last week to complete a marine park system stretching along its entire coastline to ensure its waters remain full of life and continue to draw visitors. This signals a growing movement to protect some of the oceans most ecologically valuable areas before they are damaged beyond repair.
Working to Protect 10% of Our Oceans by 2020
WWF works to ensure MPAs are designed and managed well, and monitors the impacts of reserves to find solutions that benefit both people and nature. We monitor fish spawning areas and the health of coral reefs, and study the impacts of protected areas on local communities.
Australia’s new network of marine parks will span more than one third of its waters—a milestone that WWF has been working toward for more than 15 years. It’s also one step closer to the global scientific community’s recommendation of protecting 10% of our oceans by 2020.
WWF still expresses concern that some of Australia’s critical marine habitats are not included in this recent declaration and are still vulnerable to industrial exploitation. We will continue to work toward well-designed and well-managed marine protected areas in the Coral Triangle, Pacific and other parts of the world, to ensure our oceans remain abundant for future generations.
Geneva - Killing of elephants driven by the illegal ivory trade has reached crisis levels in Africa, new information released today says. Across Africa elephants are being driven into decline due to poaching for their tusks, according to a report issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Data from the report shows increased poaching across the entire range of the African elephant, but the highest rates are in Central Africa. “The rise in levels of illegal killing and the dynamics surrounding it are worrying, not only for small and fragmented elephant populations that could face extirpation, but also for previously secure large populations,” the report says.
Last year is cited as having the highest poaching rates ever documented, exceeding record rates witnessed in 2010. It is estimated that tens of thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their tusks, which are in demand in Asia. East Africa is identified in the report as the centre of illicit ivory transport to Asia, with an escalating number of illegal consignments exiting seaports there.
“Alarmingly, 2011 recorded the highest number of large-scale seizures ever,” said Lamine Sebogo, WWF’s African elephant programme manager. “Such seizures indicate the involvement of organized criminal networks, but very few cases have been followed up with proper investigations, arrests, prosecutions or the imposition of credible penalties.”
This scale of illegal ivory trade was demonstrated early in 2012, when a gang of heavily armed foreign poachers entered Cameroon and killed hundreds of elephants in Bouba N’Djida National Park. This event, and others like it, constitutes an invasion and a threat not only to wildlife but people, territorial integrity and stability.
Poor governance and weak law enforcement efforts have been identified as the primary drivers of elephant poaching and ivory trade in Africa, according to the report that will be considered by governments later this month at a key CITES meeting. China and Thailand are identified in the findings as the two biggest raw ivory consuming countries in the world. Data indicates that poaching trends can be correlated with increasing affluence in China, and that raw ivory prices doubled there between 2004 and 2010.
“In the last two years we have seen open flouting of China’s internal ivory trade laws,” said Dr Colman O’Criodain, WWF’s wildlife trade policy analyst. “Many visitors, including foreign government representatives attending CITES-related meetings in China, have reported seeing ivory openly on sale without the required certification cards that prove legality of origin.”
The Chinese market remains the most prominent destination for illicit ivory, and a serious slackening of enforcement of country’s strict internal trade controls is a major cause for concern. In Thailand, legislative loopholes mean that there is no effective regulation at all.“In Thailand there is no regulation of ivory trade. Visitors can see ivory openly on sale, the vast bulk of it apparently of African origin,” O’Criodain says. “It is a crime to bring ivory home from another country, even if shopkeepers tell you otherwise.”
“It is imperative that CITES member states take remedial actions to shut down unregulated or poorly regulated domestic ivory markets, especially the world's largest markets in China and Thailand,” said O’Criodain.
One hopeful sign in the fight to save elephants is the recent adoption by Central African countries of an action plan to combat wildlife crimes including elephant poaching and illegal ivory.
“We commend Central African governments for taking action to safeguard their natural heritage through developing this plan. We call on government leaders to implement the plan as a matter of urgency and encourage the international community to provide financial support to this end ,” Sebogo said.
EW DECLARATION IN AUSTRANLIA PROTECTS 1.1 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN
Home to incredible marine species such as whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and spectacular corals, the world’s biggest network of marine protected areas (MPAs) was declared by Australia this week. This newly established MPA covers more than 1.1 million square miles of ocean.
Within our stunningly diverse oceans, MPAs protect habitats such as coral reefs and sea grass beds from destructive fishing practices. They allow depleted fish populations to recover and provide refuge for endangered species such as marine turtles. They also provide food security for people who rely on the ocean for their daily sustenance and livelihoods.
Australia’s announcement sets a global precedent for ocean protection as countries prepare to meet for Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, next week. It also follows California's decision last week to complete a marine park system stretching along its entire coastline to ensure its waters remain full of life and continue to draw visitors. This signals a growing movement to protect some of the oceans most ecologically valuable areas before they are damaged beyond repair.
Working to Protect 10% of Our Oceans by 2020
WWF works to ensure MPAs are designed and managed well, and monitors the impacts of reserves to find solutions that benefit both people and nature. We monitor fish spawning areas and the health of coral reefs, and study the impacts of protected areas on local communities.
Australia’s new network of marine parks will span more than one third of its waters—a milestone that WWF has been working toward for more than 15 years. It’s also one step closer to the global scientific community’s recommendation of protecting 10% of our oceans by 2020.WWF still expresses concern that some of Australia’s critical marine habitats are not included in this recent declaration and are still vulnerable to industrial exploitation. We will continue to work toward well-designed and well-managed marine protected areas in the Coral Triangle, Pacific and other parts of the world, to ensure our oceans remain abundant for future generations.
No comments:
Post a Comment