Ending wildlife crime
SIR – According to a global assessment last year, we could see the extinction of a million species in the coming decades, with devastating consequences for wildlife, biodiversity and, ultimately, people. Despite 50 years of conservation efforts, we have failed to curb the loss of biodiversity.
Overexploitation, including the illegal killing, trade and consumption of wild species, is one of the greatest threats. Elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, pangolins and sharks are among the thousands of animals that are severely affected. Wildlife crime is organised and transnational, and has a devastating impact on wildlife, communities, economies and security.
Reports that the coronavirus epidemic could be linked to the consumption of illegally sourced wildlife follows on from other serious human disease issues such as HIV Aids, Ebola, Sars and Mers, all of which were linked to wildlife. The human and economic costs of such outbreaks are massive. Action to combat wildlife crime is therefore also vital in order to protect public health.
Yet, remarkably, there is no global legal agreement on how to do this. The perpetrators of wildlife crime are driven by profit, and the belief that their crime is a low-risk, high-return enterprise. They need to feel the long arm of the law. Only governments, the police and other enforcement agencies, along with prosecutors and the judiciary, can take them on.
The time has come to establish a new global agreement on wildlife crime, one that is embedded in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, as has been done for other serious crimes such as human trafficking. Such an agreement would oblige countries to address serious wildlife crimes at international and domestic levels, enhance cooperative law enforcement efforts, and criminalise the importation, distribution and consumption of illegally sourced wildlife to help countries of origin protect their wildlife. Now, in the so-called “super year” for biodiversity, is the time to act. Otherwise, for many species, it will be too late.
Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Con) John E Scanlon
Secretary-General (2010-2018), Cites Will Travers
Executive President, Born Free Foundation