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Bow briefing
International Wildlife Conservation Protecting and Extending our Record of Action
feeding corruption and undermining stability in what are already fragile states.
Introduction The 2010 Conservative Manifesto included commitments to:
“And the profits from the trade pose an increasing threat to security by funding criminal gangs and terrorism”. 1
- Support the strongest protection for endangered species and work to protect vital habitats from destruction; - Tackle the smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife through the new Border Police force; - Firmly oppose any resumption of commercial whaling; and - Press for a total ban on ivory sales and the destruction of existing stockpiles
The illegal wildlife trade poses great risks for the communities in the range states where the species originate. Over the last decade at least 1,000 rangers were killed in 35 different countries attempting to protect wildlife and habitats. 2 Heavily armed poachers now kill the rangers before they kill the wildlife; the destabilisation disrupts the often fragile economies developing in places like DR Congo and Somalia. Removal of iconic wildlife such as elephants, rhinos and big cats reduces the potential for environmentally-friendly tourism as well as affecting the ecosystems of the areas concerned. This has escalated from solely an environmental issue to one of serious organised crime and terrorism.
These were the clearest promises on these issues of the three major parties at the election and they gained the Party support from charities, conservation groups and the public. On the initiative of Conservative Ministers, the Coalition has provided international leadership for the conservation of wildlife. From hosting the 2014 London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade resulting in the signing of the London Declaration by 40 countries, to securing the adoption of a package of measures to promote transparency and address corruption at the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the UK has led the calls for action to protect threatened species around the globe.
The international response This Government persuaded 40 countries around the globe to sign a joint declaration at the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade. They agreed to eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife products; ensure effective legal frameworks and deterrents; strengthen law enforcement and support sustainable livelihoods and economic development. This recognition of the future for wildlife being linked to a successful economic future for the communities in which the animals live is essential if the illegal wildlife trade is to be reduced and eventually ended. 3
The Government has backed this up with the training of enforcement agencies about wildlife crime abroad as well as allocating £10 million to fight wildlife crime (including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund). Within the UK, the Border Force and National Wildlife Crime Unit have proved highly effective in combating wildlife crime and intercepting criminals who use Britain as a transit nation.
The UK Government has allocated £10 million to fund actions in support of the London Declarations aims, including support for projects submitted under the Darwin Initiative; funding for the
The illegal wildlife trade is booming
However, those members of the public for whom animal welfare is a concern are unlikely to be as aware of these successful initiatives as they are of Conservative Ministers’ support for the badger cull and repealing the Hunting Act.
Rt Hon William Hague MP Elephant Protection Initiative (launched at the London Conference by five African states); chairing CITES 4 Rhino Working Group; reducing consumer demand in Asia and supporting the follow-up conference in Botswana in March 2015.
The trade in endangered wildlife
London, December 2014 Principle author Graham Godwin-Pearson
Media enquiries Luke Springthorpe
[email protected]
The poaching of rhinos for their horns, elephants for ivory, the capture of exotic species for the pet trade and a host of other forms of trade are pushing some species to the brink of extinction. More elephants are being killed than are being born – a situation that is clearly unsustainable.
The continued threat to whales Despite the worldwide ban on commercial whaling, it continues to be practiced by Japan, Norway and Iceland. In recent years the Japanese government has set annual catch limits of more than 1,000 whales to be killed.
In 2013, the then-Foreign Secretary William Hague told the United Nations, “The Illegal Wildlife Trade is booming; it is now worth up to 19 billion dollars each year and rising, a figure that is absolutely shocking…the illegal trade in these animals is not just an environmental tragedy; it strikes at the heart of local communities by www.bowgroup.org.uk
In addition, whales and dolphins become entangled in fishing
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gear, are hit by ships and are affected by ocean noise and other forms of pollution. Some populations of whales are extremely endangered. For example, the IWC estimates that there are only around 121 Western Pacific Gray whales remaining. 5
3. Stopping illegal wildlife trade within the UK Currently the National Wildlife Crime Unit only receives funding up until March 2016 leading to potential problems with long-term planning and staff retention. A commitment to long-term funding of the Unit would ensure the stability and continuity required for its future success.
The international response The Australian government took Japan to the International Court of Justice which ruled Japan’s so-called scientific whaling in the Antarctic was illegal and must stop. The UK supported the successful resolution endorsing the reasoning behind this and calling on Japan to abide by this decision at the IWC in 2014.
4. Combating illegal trade on the Internet Include measures in the forthcoming review of COTES legislation to ensure any wildlife products are traded legally by a) removing ignorance as a defence by requiring a compulsory message to alert users that they might be breaking the law when it can be identified that the user is trading in wildlife or wildlife products and b) putting the burden of proof on the offenders by requiring sellers to demonstrate the legality of their products.
On 31 March 2014 the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s current programme for ‘scientific whaling’ in the Antarctic was illegal and must stop (Whaling in the Antarctic: Australia v Japan). 6 This is a once in a generation decision that could result in the end of Antarctic whaling. Since the judgment Japan has indicated that it intends to develop a new research programme for killing whales that complies with the judgment. In September 2014, the IWC adopted a resolution on ‘scientific whaling’ which lays down a process for the IWC to determine whether any new proposals meet the court’s findings.
Tackle the growing threat of online wildlife cybercrime by ensuring adequate enforcement capacity and expertise is allocated to investigations, including appointing a Wildlife Crime Internet Intelligence Officer to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and developing partnerships between the NWCU and the National Crime Agency.
Conclusion
The alternative Whether it be rhinos in Africa, elephants in India or whales off the Japanese coast, there are wildlife-watching initiatives providing local tourist industries with sustainable economic development alternatives to killing wildlife.
The issue of endangered species and extinction is an iconic and important one. The Conservative Party is in an excellent position to build on a record of action made during this Government in the protection of endangered species within its 2015 manifesto.
UK Embassies and consulates in the ‘range states’ of these animals can encourage UK business investment and DfID support for such developments.
Such commitments are crucial if we are to save certain species; they will also reinforce the Party’s commitment to global conservation causes when others do not.
The next steps for the Conservatives
The illegal wildlife trade
The Conservatives are the only party in the forthcoming General Election who can really be proud of our achievements on international wildlife conservation. This is an area where we can really show the public that conservation is at the heart of the Conservative ethos. A commitment is needed in our Manifesto to consolidate the action taken for wildlife conservation over the past four years and to extend this in future. Affordable and achievable pledges can be summarised in five points:
- £3-13 bn a year earned from illegal wildlife trade - 95% of rhinos killed since 1970s - 22,000 African elephants poached for ivory in 2012
1. International leadership for wildlife conservation
- 3,200 tigers left in the wild
Continue to take a lead both in the run up to the Botswana Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2015, ensuring wildlife crime is recognised as a serious organised crime, and providing leadership within EU delegations to international bodies such as CITES. Use the ICJ judgment to put diplomatic pressure on Japan at the very highest level to withdraw its new ‘scientific whaling’ proposal and stop whaling in the Antarctic. In addition, raise the issue of Japan’s illegal takes of sei whales in the North Pacific at CITES.
Source: United for Wildlife, WWF
References 1. Rt Hon William Hague MP, UK Mission to the United Nations, New York 26.09.13 2. Figures from the International Ranger Federation. 3. Declaration of London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, 12-13.02.14 4. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild fauna and Flora 5. http://iwc.int/estimate 6. http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/148/18160.pdf 7. P.H. Sand, Japan’s “Research Whaling” in the Antarctic Southern Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean in the Face of the Endangered Species Convention (CITES), 17 REV. EUR. COMMUNITY & INT’L ENVTL. L. 56 (2008); 8. The COTES (Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations enshrine CITES rules in UK law.
Encourage Iceland to revoke any existing permits for fin and minke whales and not permit future international trade in fin whale products despite the CITES ban. Secure a new, stronger EU common position on whaling, which actually commits the EU to taking action rather than paying lip service to whale conservation while in practice doing nothing. In addition, support for Monaco’s call at the IWC for international collaboration to close the gap in protection for highly migratory cetacean species. The IWC currently only has measures in place for 17 of the 81 marine cetacean species and for remaining species there are issues that cannot be solved by the IWC acting alone. Given the many and varied threats that whales and dolphins face, it is important to secure genuine international collaboration through all possible international fora.
With thanks to IFAW UK. Cover photo courtesy of Tusk.
About the Bow Group
2. Funding and training for anti-poaching and consumer awareness measures
Founded in 1951, the Bow Group is the oldest conservative think tank in the UK and exists to publish the research of its members, stimulate policy debate through an events programme and to provide an intellectual home to conservatives.
Combating poaching is essential to tackle organised crime and reduce a funding stream for terrorists. Continued funding is needed for UK military training for the Kenya Wildlife Service and related organisations; the Elephant Protection Initiative and the African Elephant Action Plan and educational support for demand-reduction in consumer states like China.
Although firmly housed in the Conservative family, the Bow Group does not take a corporate view and it represents all strands of conservative opinion. The group’s President is The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH and The Rt Hon Lord Howe of Aberavon Kt CH QC PC is a former Chairman and current Senior Patron.
www.bowgroup.org.uk
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