Wildlife reports

Parties to the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) are reminded of the critical conservation status of Asia’s big cats

The 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will take place from 14-25 November in Panama City. EIA encourages CITES Parties and stakeholders to consider information contained in this document when making decisions on proposals and matters in […]

Ahead of the 74th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), EIA has prepared comments and recommendations on agenda items relating to Elephants, Pangolins, Tigers and other Asian Big Cats, Rhinos, Totoaba, Saiga, enforcement and compliance matters.

For a decade, Vietnam has been repeatedly highlighted for its role in the international illegal wildlife trade, so it is encouraging to see the recent efforts taken by the Government to address its involvement; it is to be congratulated for the measures it has taken and the successes it has had domestically.

Unfettered growth of TCM poses a serious threat to biodiversity in Africa, all in the name of short-term profit. Any utilisation of threatened species in TCM could stimulate further demand, incentivise wildlife crime and ultimately lead to overexploitation.

The United Nations General Assembly special session on corruption from 2-4 June 2021 (UNGASS) is an opportunity to highlight the important relationship between environmental crime and corruption and to galvanise governments and relevant agencies into action. The corruption that drives wildlife and forest crime is extensive and systemic and will be difficult to stop; arrests of ‘rogue individuals’ will not prevent further corruption. However, there are steps which EIA believes could be effective.