EU states commit to ending wildlife crime, but critical measures missing
21 June 2016by WWF -- last modified 21 June 2016
EU Environment Ministers endorsed Monday an ambitious EU Action Plan to boost the region’s collective efforts to end wildlife trafficking, but the absence of some key commitments could weaken its overall impact and effectiveness.
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The Action Plan was developed to strengthen the EU's response to the global poaching and illegal wildlife trade crisis and was adopted by the European Commission in February. WWF warmly welcomed the plan but hoped that ministers would support it by endorsing additional concrete commitments on financial resources, national legislative amendments, and reporting – all of which are missing from the final conclusions.
"EU Environment Ministers have demonstrated their desire to crack down
on wildlife crime by signing up to this wide-ranging action plan, but
they should have been even bolder," said Sally Nicholson, Head of
Development Policy & Finance at WWF European Policy Office.
"Ministers failed to pledge the necessary financial and human resources
to back up their words and prove they are really serious about fighting
wildlife trafficking."
The EU Action Plan as well as other international commitments requires
Member States to legally recognise wildlife trafficking as a "serious
crime" and to review relevant national legislation on money laundering.
However, not all Member States have taken these steps, so they must do
so urgently to ensure that organised wildlife trafficking is punishable
by a minimum sentence of at least four years imprisonment.
"Weak punishments are part of the reason wildlife trafficking has become
one of the world's most widespread transnational criminal activities,"
said Sally Nicholson. "Increasing sanctions, tackling corruption and
making sure wildlife crime is a high priority for law enforcement at EU
and national levels are of paramount importance to deter criminals."
The Environment Minsters' conclusions do acknowledge that the EU plays
an important role not just as a transit point and end market but also as
a source region for the trafficking of endangered domestic species.
This refers in particular to the European eel and Danube sturgeon
species. WWF also welcomes the recognition of the critical role of local
communities and civil society in the conservation of wildlife, and the
need for their involvement.
With 30,000 elephants being poached in Africa last year as well as a
record 1,338 rhinos, EU leadership is critical in the fight to end
wildlife crime in Europe and around the world, which threatens not only
species but also security and sustainable development.
Member States now need to make sure they fully implement the EU Action
Plan and report back on the progress made, especially for the actions to
be delivered by the end of 2016. In particular, the EU has an important
role to play at the largest ever Conference of the Parties of the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Johannesburg in September. There it will be
lobbying for a number of measures that are part of the plan, including
better regulation of trade in hunting trophies and measures to address
corruption.
The European Policy Office contributes to the achievement of WWF's global mission by leading the WWF network to shape EU policies impacting on the European and global environment.
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