Defining wildlife crime in terms the public can understand At the moment, wildlife crime is a remote and abstract concept, because it lacks definition on how it applies in real terms. People are not connecting with it because it is being defined from a conservation perspective. From a law enforcement perspective, I believe ‘the message’ should focus on three key issues: Issue 1. In simple terms, it is wrong for someone in one country to benefit from a crime committed in another country. This principle already applies in many areas of law enforcement and in 2011 efforts started to extend it to encompass the growing global problem of ‘wildlife crime’. In terms of application, if a country enacts laws to protect a particular species or category of wildlife, or designates conservation zones or protected areas and these laws are violated, any removal of wildlife in contravention of these laws becomes an illegal act in that country and no one in another country should profit from this. Issue 2. According to ‘Article 3: Principle’, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): ‘States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction’. The import and sale of illegally obtained goods is arguably the most important link in the wildlife crime supply chain. This being the case, surely signatories to the CBD should take actions to enforce their obligations under the convention. The USA has and uses to good effect the ‘Lacey Act’. What about other countries? Issue 3. Where legitimate trade exists in a wildlife product, such as Abalone, honest businessmen cannot compete with organized crime syndicates which are sourcing the same product illegally. If wildlife crime is defined in these terms, I believe we will create a better understanding of the problem and will perhaps get better buy-in from individuals, countries and businessmen in providing solutions.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:31:55 +0000
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