At the recent meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Vladivostok, Russian Federation, the leaders of the APEC member economies expressed concern about the global escalation in illicit wildlife trafficking, and committed to strengthen their efforts to combat the illegal trade:
We recognize that natural resources and the ecosystems upon which they depend are important foundations for sustainable economic growth. We therefore, are concerned by the escalating illicit trafficking in endangered and protected wildlife, including marine resources, and associated products, which has economic, social, security, and environmental consequences in our economies. We commit to strengthen our efforts to combat illegal trade in wildlife, timber, and associated products, to implement measures to ensure sustainable marine and forest ecosystems management, and to facilitate sustainable, open, and fair trade of non-timber forest products. We will take meaningful steps to promote sustainable management and conservation of wildlife populations while addressing both the illegal supply and demand for endangered and protected wildlife, through capacity building, cooperation, increased enforcement, and other mechanisms.
APEC is made up of 20 member economies across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Canada, Chile, China, the United States of America and Vietnam.
The need for strengthened action against illicit wildlife trafficking was also recognised by world leaders in the Outcome Document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012:
We recognize the important role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement that stands at the intersection between trade, the environment and development; promotes the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, should contribute to tangible benefits for local people, and ensures that no species entering into international trade is threatened with extinction. We recognize the economic, social and environmental impacts of illicit trafficking in wildlife, where firm and strengthened action needs to be taken on both the supply and demand sides. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of effective international cooperation among relevant multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations. We further stress the importance of basing the listing of species on agreed criteria.
Further information about APEC and the APEC Leaders Declaration can be found at www.apec.org
Further information about Rio+20 and the Rio+20 Outcomes Document can be found at www.uncsd2012.org
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1. APEC 2012 Leaders Declaration, Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper, Vladivostok, Russian Federation, September 8-9, 2012, page 3. Accessed at http://www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/Leaders-Declarations/2012/~/media/Files/LeadersDeclarations/2012/2012_AELM_Declaration.ashx
2. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/288, The Future We Want, 11 September 2012, paragraph 203. Accessed at http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/66/288&Lang=E