Wycliffe: Enforce control measures
ENFORCING strengthened border control measures and protection of indigenous species is imperative to safeguard endangered and endemic species.
This was the word from Environment Ministry permanent secretary Joshua Wycliffe when he opened training on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered and Protected Species Act (2002) (CITES) in Labasa this week.
He told participants from the Fiji Police Force, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, iTaukei Affairs Ministry, Labasa Town Council and border control officers that the ministry had a big task ahead in safeguarding endangered species.
“Averting this crisis depends not only on action by the Ministry of Environment but through consolidated effort and co-operation from all relevant authorities,” he said.
“The CITES is a legally binding treaty that is, by far, the most effective international legal instrument to protect wildlife and ensuring that trade will not result in the over exploitation of wild animals and plants, either terrestrial or aquatic.
“To date, Fiji had established the Fiji CITES Management Authority and the Fiji CITES Scientific Council to help facilitate the implementation of Fjji’s CITES obligation.”
Mr Wycliffe said it was important workshops were held around the country to build capacity of enforcement officers to fully understand the technicalities of CITES.
“The ministry relies on your enforcement capacity for strengthened border control and eagerly anticipated the outcomes from this CITES enforcement training.”