George Kebaso and Evelyn Makena @PeopleDailyKe
Gains made in combating illegal trade in wildlife products will be watered down unless there is global unity to stop the demand and corruption that fuels poaching.
United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) deputy executive director, Ibrahim Thiaw yesterday said there is need for concerted efforts by governments, institutions and the civil society to review policy and legislative interventions to eliminate wildlife crimes in Africa.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi, Thiaw said the illicit trade in wildlife resources poses a threat to the continent’s economies, security and ecosystems.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) director Kitili Mbathi said in the last two years, Kenya has made significant success in tackling the illegal supply of wildlife products.
High-level dialogue
He, however, expressed disappointment that the efforts were being undermined by little focus on the demand side globally.
“In the last two years, we have increased our pace, and tried as the Kenyan government to put in place a number of legislations and other relevant frameworks to deter poaching,” said Mbathi ahead of today’s high-level dialogue on the illegal wildlife trade.
Today’s event will also see the launching of the UN Wild for Life campaign, which seeks to create collaboration, policy implementation, grassroots participation to sensitise communities in source and destination countries in war on poaching.
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