Posted on 30 January
2014 | 30 January 2014 – The United Nations
Security Council took a critical step today
in tackling elephant poaching and illicit
ivory trade by addressing the link between
instability in the Democratic Republic of
Congo and wildlife trafficking.
In renewing the DRC
sanctions regime, the resolution targets
individuals and entities illegally supporting
armed groups through the illicit trade of
natural resources, including wildlife and
wildlife products, such as elephant ivory.
Over 20,000 elephants
are killed each year for their ivory tusks,
with much of the killing occurring in conflict
zones in Central Africa, including the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Central African
Republic.
“Individuals involved
in poaching and trafficking of wildlife
are now singled out for sanctions where
the proceeds of their activities have been
used to finance conflict,” said Wendy Elliott,
species programme manager at WWF.
“This is a huge step forward for reducing
human suffering, improving peace and security
and strengthening wildlife conservation.”
On Tuesday, the council
further underscored the link between wildlife
crime and conflict through the adoption
of a separate sanctions regime for the Central
African Republic. That resolution also targets
individuals involved in the illicit exploitation
of wildlife and wildlife products.
“The DRC and CAR resolutions
are critical. They illustrate the high priority
that the Security Council places on ending
the human pain and regional instability
that accompany these environmental crimes,”
said Elliott.
With mounting evidence
that the proceeds of wildlife poaching and
trafficking are being used to finance armed
groups, the resolutions on DRC and CAR designate
wildlife trade as a factor to be considered
when targeting future sanctions.
The resolutions come
in advance of other global efforts to end
illicit wildlife trafficking, including
a high-level meeting to be hosted by the
British government in February.
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New report: government
failures put Reef World Heritage Status
“on the line”
Posted on 30 January
2014 | A new report shows the Australian
and Queensland Governments are failing to
act on the World Heritage Committee’s major
concerns about the Great Barrier Reef.
UNESCO’S World Heritage
Committee has made a series of recommendations
on improving management of the Reef and
asked the Australian Government to report
on progress by 1 February 2014. The Committee
meets in Doha, Qatar this June and without
substantial progress it could list the Great
Barrier Reef as World Heritage in Danger.
WWF-Australia and the
Australian Marine Conservation Society today
released the 72 page report, which assesses
progress on the recommendations, and an
accompanying scorecard which lists the government
failures.
Of the seven detailed
recommendations from the World Heritage
Committee the Australian and Queensland
Governments have failed to make “good progress
or completed” any of them.
Some of the major concerns
detailed in the report are:
• Federal Environment
Minister Greg Hunt recently approved four
major developments within the Great Barrier
Reef World Heritage Area. This includes
the dumping of dredge spoil in Reef waters
in direct contravention of one of the World
Heritage Committee’s recommendations
• The Federal Government is handing over
environmental approval powers to the Queensland
Government just as the Queensland Government
is watering down state legislation in ways
that “actively impede” protection of the
Reef.
• The health of the Reef continues to decline
and “If pollution impacts are not properly
addressed through greatly increased investment
and on-ground action, it is highly unlikely
that the Outstanding Universal Value of
the Great Barrier Reef will be conserved.”
• Halting and reversing the overall declining
condition of the Reef won’t be possible
using current management approaches
“We’re going backwards
on the Reef – that’s the sad truth,” said
WWF Reef Campaign Director Richard Leck.
“What we get from the
Australian and Queensland governments is
lots of talk but very little action.
“The reality on the
ground is that major destructive industrial
projects that involve outdated practices
like dumping dredge spoil in Reef waters
continue to be approved.
“Our World Heritage
Status for the Reef is on the line. Do we
really want to join the list of shame and
have the Reef declared World Heritage in
Danger? Imagine the impact that would have
on our tourism industry?” he said.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef
Campaign Director, Felicity Wishart, said
governments had dropped the ball.
“It seems the Federal
and Queensland governments either don’t
understand what’s at stake or worse they’re
deliberately ignoring the World Heritage
Committee,” she said.
“This is serious – our
governments have botched or defied the World
Heritage Committee's key recommendations
about the Reef.
“With plans by the Federal
Government to hand over its environmental
approvals to the Queensland Government,
which is busy stripping away environmental
protection, it is a recipe for disaster
for the Reef.”
