3 March 2016: In celebration of the World Wildlife Day 2016, organized around the theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands,” UN Member States, UN agencies and stakeholders discussed illicit trafficking in wildlife. Participants in the discussion stressed the need for: enhancing governance; taking individual responsibility; involving all relevant stakeholders; strengthening law enforcement; addressing corruption; engaging and empowering the communities that live in the proximity where wildlife lives; and addressing the lack of staff and capacity. The sub-theme of the Day was “The future of elephants is in our hands,” to draw special attention to African and Asian elephants.

To mark the Day, which was celebrated on 3 March 2016, the UN, Gabon, Germany and Thailand co-hosted a high-level panel discussion on international wildlife crime, in collaboration with civil society partners, in New York, US.

Cristina Gallach, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, highlighted the two Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to end poaching and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution A/RES/69/314 on ‘Tackling the Illicit Trafficking in Wildlife,’ stating that they provide “powerful political tools” that express the determination to end illicit trafficking in wildlife. She stressed the need to address wildlife trafficking across the supply chain, from demand to supply, through agreed goals and targets and through international instruments such as CITES.

She noted that the protection of wildlife is the shared responsibility of citizens, business and governments. Gallach spoke about the campaign “One UN Global Coalition,” led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), to end illicit wildlife trafficking. The campaign underlines that fashion or cultural beliefs should not be allowed to contribute to the endangering of any species. She further underscored that the conservation projects need to be livelihood-based and respect the rule of law.

Elilott Harris, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the UNEP New York Office, called for deepening our understanding of the environmental consequences, social drivers and economic dynamics of the exploitation of natural resources, both legal and illegal, in particular the role of illegal trade in fueling conflict. To this end, he suggested: strengthening the evidence-based and analysis of the information that we collect; raising awareness of the implications of illegal wildlife trade so that consumers could make informed choices about wildlife products; supporting communities in addressing poaching and illegal harvesting and ensuring that communities themselves derive legal benefits from the wildlife in the forests in which they live; and strengthening prosecution capabilities, improving intelligence gathering, and customs and borders control.

Heiko Thoms, Permanent Representative of Germany, noted that Lithuania and Angola have taken the issue of illegal wildlife trade in an informal meeting of the UN Security Council, and especially the issue of poaching and small arms in Africa. He suggested that the next step could be taking the issue as a formal meeting of the UN Security Council that could make recommendations, including making poaching a designated criteria for sanctions measures and peace operations.

Nik Sekhran, UNDP, explained that “we are embarked on a long path of behavioral change,” stressing the need to integrate issues related to illegal wildlife trafficking in school education, which is already happening in South Africa. He also underlined the importance to increase efforts in mass education, such as through social media and celebrities.

In the ensuing discussion, Kenya noted the importance of political good will for putting forward legislation appropriate for conservation and for building the institutions necessary for its implementation.

In his message to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “time is running out” to stop poaching. Braulio Ferreira De Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), emphasized that poaching and trafficking of ivory are among the most serious immediate threats to African elephants.

Speaking at the International conference on wildlife crime, which took place in The Hague, Netherlands, from 1-3 March 2016, John Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), stressed that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility.

In related news, the World Bank reported on a project carried out in Botswana, Africa, which promotes the wellness of some of the poorest villagers as well as elephants, and other animals.

In Kyrgyzstan, an event was held to reward rangers engaged in the fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade, and to showcase the first ever wildlife detection canine team in the country.

On 20 December 2013, the UNGA decided to proclaim 3 March, the day of signature of CITES, as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. [UN Web TV – Recording of the Meeting] [World Wildlife Day Website] [IISD RS Sources] [Keynote Address by CITES Secretary-General John E. Scanlon at the International Conference on Wildlife Crime] [World Bank Press Release on WWD and Botswana] [World Bank Blog Post on WWD] [CBD Executive Secretary’s Statement] [The Hague Institute for Global Justice Press Release on the International Conference on Wildlife Crime] [UNDP Press Release] [Snow Leopard Trust Press Release on Kyrgyzstan Event] [UNEP Press Release] [GEF Press Release]