CITES awards Certificate
of Commendation to Czech authorities for
their exemplary enforcement actions
Geneva, 6 October 2010 – The Secretary-General
of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) has awarded
a Certificate of Commendation to the General
Directorate of Customs of the Czech Republic
and the Czech Environmental Inspectorate
in recognition of their exemplary efforts
to combat illegal trade in parrots.
Since 2006, the two
agencies have collaborated on a long-term
investigation relating to the smuggling
of rare parrots, which has required liaison
and coordination with other law enforcement
bodies around the world and with the INTERPOL
General Secretariat. The investigation has
uncovered widespread forgery of CITES documents,
false declarations of captive breeding,
and use of fake marking rings. Methods used
for the first time in wildlife crime investigations
also allowed the detection of new smuggling
routes and techniques. Seizures of Appendix-I
parrots, such as specimens of the Lear's
macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), are particularly
commendable. The investigation continues
and prosecutions have commenced.
The Certificate was presented
during a ceremony at the residence of the
Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic
to the United Nations Office and other International
Organizations at Geneva, His Excellency
Ambassador Tomas Husak. It was accepted
by Mr Lubomir Doskocil on behalf of the
General Directorate of Customs and Ms Pavla
Rihova on behalf of the Czech Environmental
Inspectorate, who expressed their sincere
gratitude to the Secretariat for the recognition
of the dedicated work of the two agencies
and their staff. They added that the commendation
provided motivation and encouragement to
the staff in carrying out their work, which
they would pursue with even further dedication
in the decade ahead in the interest of the
conservation of the world's biodiversity.
In making the presentation,
CITES Secretary-General Mr John Scanlon
said: "The success of CITES relies
upon the dedicated efforts of people working
in each country through national Management,
Scientific and Enforcement Authorities.
Today we pause to recognize and commend
the very special collaborative efforts of
the two Czech agencies involved in fighting
illegal trade in parrots. It is through
concrete actions such as these that we will
achieve our biodiversity targets."
The CITES Secretary-General
began awarding Certificates of Commendation
in 2002 to recognize exemplary enforcement
actions by individuals or organizations
that have contributed to the enforcement
of the Convention.
