| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2014) 64 final (7.2.14) |
| Publication Date | 07/02/2014 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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The world is currently facing a significant surge in illegal cross-border trade in wild fauna and flora (wildlife trafficking). It has become one of the most profitable criminal activities globally. Wildlife trafficking is not a new phenomenon, but its scale, nature and impacts have changed considerably over the last years. A recent UN Resolution identified wildlife trafficking as a "serious organised crime" committed by the same types of global organised criminal groups responsible for activities such as trafficking in human beings, drugs and firearms. With some militia groups using it for funding their activities, there has been recognition by the UN Secretary General and within the Security Council that poaching and trafficking of wildlife are among the factors that fuel instability in Central Africa and menace peace and security in the region. The increase in wildlife trafficking is mainly driven by a high and growing demand for wildlife products, notably in parts of Asia, by poverty, weak governance, instability and crisis situations in key source regions, and facilitated by gaps in enforcement and insufficiently deterrent sanctions. Wildlife trafficking constitutes a serious threat to biodiversity and to sustainable development. Emblematic species like elephants, rhinoceroses, great apes, tigers or sharks are particularly affected by wildlife trafficking, to a point where the survival of some of those species in the wild is in jeopardy. Poaching for elephant and rhinoceros has reached its highest levels in recent history, undermining the recovery seen in the last three decades. But wildlife trafficking concerns many more animal and plant species (e.g., corals, reptiles, pangolins, plants and animals used for medicinal purposes) and products (e.g. timber, charcoal, and bushmeat). Public health through the spread of disease is also at risk, as animals are smuggled outside of any sanitary control. The EU remains a major destination market for illegal wildlife products, with a significant demand notably for species which attract high prices on the black market. At the same time, the major ports and airports of the EU are important transit points for trafficking activities, in particular between Africa and Asia. Some 2500 seizures of wildlife products are made every year in the EU. Certain rare species of birds, corals, fish and tortoise are also trafficked from EU Member States, within the EU or to third countries. The purpose of this Communication is to draw attention to the urgency of addressing the global problem of wildlife trafficking more effectively. It takes stock of and assesses existing EU measures to support the fight against wildlife trafficking both globally (part 2) and within the EU (part 3). Finally, it initiates a debate on the future approach of the EU to wildlife trafficking. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2014:064:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
