Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC)

Movement of wildlife and wildlife products into or out of Australia is regulated by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). International wildlife trade provisions of the EPBC Act are administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Australia is a partner in the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), and also a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

More at: www.environment.gov.au/travel

CAWT Partner activities in 2011

Endangered Species Certification scheme (ESCS) – Complementary (Traditional) Medicines
The department has continued to work co-operatively with the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) in promoting the Endangered Species Certification Scheme (ESCS). The ESCS recognises efforts undertaken by traditional medicine practitioners and traders to protect endangered species – each certifying that products they use and sell do not contain parts or derivatives of wildlife.

The uptake of this scheme by industry continues to increase, and to date, 82 practitioners and traders are certified members.

The department also participated in a dedicated session on the ESCS held at the 2011 Australasian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Conference (AACMAC).

Travelxpo 2011
The department hosted information booths at the 2011 Travelxpos in Sydney and Melbourne in March. These events aim to increase awareness by the public and travel industry of wildlife trade issues and the regulatory approach Australia takes in regards to wildlife items.

Melinda Pearce at the Information booth at the 2011 Melbourne Travelxpo, 19-20 March, to inform travellers of wildlife regulation with regards to souvenirs and wildlife products.
Media promotions
Ms Deb Callister, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department’s Wildlife Branch appeared on the Australian morning television program “The Circle” on 16 March 2011. Her appearance on the show promoted awareness of wildlife products which could be bought as souvenirs and the regulation which applies to trade in these products.

The department also provided an interview to Australia’s SBS TV channel for the Mandarin News on bear bile. The interview highlighted the trade and the strict controls Australia places on bear products entering Australia – including the prohibition on bear bile from the Asiatic Black Bear and prohibition on commercial trade.

Pacific education and awareness brochures
New Zealand and Australia have collaborated to create and distribute a series of education and awareness brochures on endangered wildlife products. These brochures have been published in English and seven Pacific languages (see http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/travel/travel-tips.html). The collaborative approach was taken to promote a consistent trans-Tasman and Oceanic message regarding regulations for species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The brochures have been distributed throughout the region.

Education and awareness brochures on wildlife trade and souvenirs (If in doubt-check it out) produced in seven Pacific languages

Enforcement
Australia has established a national Environmental Crimes Operations Group under the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT). This comprises Federal, State and Territory officials, and New Zealand agencies working together to facilitate collaboration and consistency in approaches to manage compliance issues relating to environmental crime, including wildlife trade.

Under the AELERT banner Australia has completed numerous enforcement activities including participation in the Interpol Environmental Crime Operation RAMP. This operation was a targeted compliance, enforcement and intelligence action focussed on the illegal trade in reptiles and amphibians.

Operation Bonaparte
Australia undertook one of our largest wildlife seizures on 3 August 2011, seizing close to 400 alleged illegal wildlife products from a single individual. The seizure followed detailed monitoring and investigative work by Departmental officers.  

Wildlife products seized included the full skin and head of an Alaskan wolf, a full skin of a lynx, a lion skull, bear skull and a mounted bear head, orangutan skulls, a carved monkey skull, ivory products and scrimshaw.

Investigations are continuing.

Media release: http://www.environment.gov.au/about/media/dept-mr/dept-mr20110811.html

 Some of the 400 items which were seized by departmental officers during Operation Bonaparte