Wanton killing of wildlife a serious security threat

By ANDREAS PESCHKE

Kenya: Wildlife crime has reached crisis point. Illegal trading in ivory has more than doubled since 2007. The poaching of rhinos has increased 50 times. Rhino horn, selling for thousands of dollars a kilo, now has more worth than gold. Last year, at least 22,000 elephants were poached in Africa. Millions of animals are poached every year. This alarming rise in the illegal slaughter and trade of endangered animals is a cause for concern. March 3 will be the first World Wildlife Day. We should mark it and take action.

Illegal trade in wildlife is a serious crime against the natural heritage of humankind. The escalation in trafficking comes with severe economic, social and environmental consequences. It drives corruption. It hampers sustainable economic development. It undermines the rule of law. Organised wildlife crime threatens the livelihoods of communities dependent on natural resources.

Wildlife crime has also become a serious security threat. The killing is done often by paramilitary gangs associated with crime syndicates or terrorist groups. The proceedings of the trafficking of poached animals often end up in the hands of armed militia and terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab.

Therefore, the problem of smuggled animal derivatives is more than a major challenge to conservationists. Eradicating illegal trade in wildlife is a cross-cutting issue with global relevance in many areas. The international community must work together to combat wildlife crime as a threat to our common global heritage.

We welcome the outcome of the End Wildlife Crime conference in London. High-ranking representatives from 46 states and the United Nations, including delegates from Vietnam and China, agreed on key actions against wildlife crime.

We must support states in Africa and elsewhere to effectively fight wildlife crime. But we must also dry up the markets of poached products all over the world and particularly in the Far East.

The fight against wildlife crime must be taken to the highest political level. In June, the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi will discuss international efforts to stop the illegal trade in wildlife. Germany will push for concrete actions to protect endangered animals and prevent poaching.

Support

The fight against illegal trade in wildlife is a priority of Germany’s international policy. In 2014, Germany will contribute Sh240 million towards nature reserve management in Africa. A significant share of these funds goes into projects directly tackling wildlife crime and its underlying root causes. Thus, the German government supports the protection of the Bouba Ndjida National Park area in Cameroon where more than 300 elephants were massacred in 2012.

German private organisations are complementing the efforts by the German government. In Kenya, Nabu, a German NGO, recently set up a fund to support the families of rangers who were killed in service to prevent poaching.

In September last year, Germany and Gabon held a special meeting during the United Nations General Assembly in New York to call attention to the devastating effects of wildlife crime. We also strongly support the efforts towards a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly against wildlife trafficking.

One thing is clear: We must not wait any longer. Time for action to save wildlife is now. If we do not act, our children may know elephants or rhinos only from history books. A concerted global effort is required.

Germany firmly stands by the side of Kenya and other African countries in their efforts to protect wildlife. It is our common heritage and our joint responsibility.