Experts urge reduction in transnational wildlife trafficking routes
CONSERVATIONISTS have identified weak legislation, corruption in the government agencies, as factors responsible for illegal wildlife trade in West Africa Sub- region.
They also called for the reduction of environmental crimes in the African continent, transit, and export routes that serve as transnational routes to Asia and Europe.
West Africa Director, Wild Africa Fund, Mr Linus Unah, who spoke at the workshop on Reporting Transnational Organised Wildlife Crime in Abuja, said it has become increasingly difficult for countries to improve the investigative and prosecutorial capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat trafficking.
He regretted that East Africa is in a crisis as 97 per cent of vultures have been killed for rituals and other purposes, while in Kenya the population of elephants and lions are increasing making the country a tourist destination in the region.
Another speaker, Justin Gosling of the United K i n g d o m - b a s e d E n v i r o n m e n t a l Investigation Agency, explained that the Bill, when passed into law, will increase the livelihood of apprehension of environmental crimes offenders and serve as a deterrent to others.
Gosling stated that Nigeria lost elephants and pangolins unknowingly, noting, the impact of their campaigns will reduce its role as a transit and export routes in transnational wildlife trafficking across the West Africa Subregion and Central Africa.
Similarly, he argued that they are working to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution as well as avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements.
"We will use our findings in hard- hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improve governance and more effective enforcement. Our field experience will be used to provide guidance to agencies and form partnerships with local groups, supporting handson training."
On her part, Mary Rice cited the key export and destination hubs for elephant ivory and pangolin trafficking from West and Central Africa to Asia as Tanzania, Kenya, Togo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, Gabon, D. R Congo and others.
Rice said the investigation and research indicate that Vietnamese- led syndicates are active in African countries, leading to a massive decline in population of elephant, rhino and pangolin species to poaching and illegal wildlife trade.