Poaching and illicit trafficking of wild fauna and flora have a significant impact on species and entire ecosystems, local communities and their livelihoods, national economies and national and regional security, as pointed out at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice which concluded in Doha yesterday.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) co-hosted an International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime high-level side event on “Wildlife and Forest Crime: A Serious Crime” on the margins of the congress last Monday.
The event provided a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the scale and nature of wildlife and forest crime, which has escalated to unprecedented levels in recent years as a result of the increased involvement of transnational organised crime groups and on some occasions, rebel militias. Wildlife poaching and trafficking pose a serious threat to the survival of some of the world’s most charismatic species, as well as many other lesser known species.
Yury Fedotov, UNODC executive director, highlighted the destructive nature of wildlife crime by stating that “wildlife and forest crime is profoundly destructive, with far-reaching consequences – undermining development and stability, threatening biodiversity and endangered species, and contributing to climate change. And yet, too often the punishment does not fit the crime. Inadequate legislative frameworks remain far too commonplace.”
John E Scanlon, CITES secretary-general, stressed that well organised and well-resourced transnational organised crime groups are driving industrial scale illegal trade in wildlife. Combating these groups requires wildlife crime to be recognised as a serious crime across source, transit and destination States and for States to deploy the same enforcement tools, techniques and penalties to fight illegal trade in wildlife as those used to combat other domestic and transnational organised crimes.
As Scanlon pointed out, it was for the first time that wildlife crime got a slot on the agenda of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The Doha Declaration adopted at the congress provides a further strong basis for states to put an end to the current high levels of illicit trafficking of wild fauna and flora.
The 13th United Nations Congress brought together policymakers and practitioners in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice and had a significant role in shaping international and domestic policy on these issues. The congress provided a unique platform for the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime to raise awareness among countries of the importance to recognise illegal trade in wildlife and forest products as a serious transnational organised crime.
