Brussels, 07/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Despite the European Union's work to prevent the poaching and sale of animals at risk of extinction, there has been a global surge recently in poaching and illegal wildlife trade, which is now at unprecedented levels for some species. The EU is a major destination market and an important transit point for illegal wildlife products, with organised crime playing an increasing role.
For this reason, the European Commission is holding a public consultation, which began on 7 February and will run until 10 April, on how the EU can be more effective in combating wildlife trafficking. Wildlife crime is highly lucrative, and prosecutions are rare. The growing demand for illegal products has devastating consequences for a number of species already under threat. The changing scale of the problem has raised questions about how the EU can be more effective in fighting against wildlife trafficking. The Commission is therefore seeking views on ten questions: Is the current legal framework adequate? Should the EU boost its approach by drawing up an action plan, as demanded by the European Parliament? How can the EU boost its political commitment to combating this problem and what diplomatic instruments can is use to ensure coherent international initiatives? Which international instruments should the EU focus on for ensuring better application of rules and governance? Which are the best instruments for reducing international and European demand for illegal wildlife products, and what role could civil society and the private sector play? How can the EU contribute to this fight, improving its understanding and the data available? What options are there for introducing tougher sanctions and what contribution could Europol and Eurojust make?
Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “Wildlife trafficking takes a terrible toll on biodiversity and we need to find ways of taking more decisive action. This consultation is a first step towards what I hope will be a major change in our approach”. The number of African elephants illegally killed has doubled over the last decade, with 22,000 killed by poachers in 2012; rhinoceros poaching has escalated in South Africa, with rhino horn selling at €40,000 a kilo; and poaching now accounts for 78% of Sumatran tiger deaths. Tiger bones sell for €900 a kilo.
The results of the consultation and the outcome of a conference to be held on 10 April 2014 will feed into a review of existing EU policies and measures in this area, with a view to helping the EU play a more effective role in addressing the problem.
The consultation can be found online at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations_en.htm #open. (AN/transl.fl)