Wildlife populations decline
NEARLY half of all the natural World Heritage sites on the planet are being ravaged by poachers who are driving some endangered animals toward extinction, according to a new report.
The illegal wildlife trade was estimated to be worth some £15bn (about R254bn), making it the fourth-largest international criminal trade after drugs, guns and human trafficking, according to the Not For Sale report.
Illicit logging and fishing are also occurring on an epic scale. The illegal felling of trees was estimated to account for up to 90% of deforestation in major tropical countries.
Fish piracy, blamed by some in countries like Somalia for pushing people into actual piracy, was found to occur in 18 out of 39 marine heritage sites, with protected species of sharks and rays among those being caught.
The report, commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund, warned that species listed on the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) – adopted in 1975 – were being killed in supposedly protected World Heritage sites.
“Between 1970 and 2012, global wildlife populations declined by almost 60% on average, and illegal harvesting of species was one of the main drivers for this decline,” authors wrote. “World Heritage sites now function as the last bastion for many critically endangered species and, unless protected, these species will go extinct.
“The current international approach to preventing illegal harvesting of Cites-listed species in World Heritage sites is not working, and stakeholders must redouble their efforts and address all parts of the wildlife trafficking value chain.”
The WWF report said that unless governments, the UN and others took “additional, immediate measures” to address widespread poaching “some species might face local extinction and some World Heritage sites could lose their outstanding universal value” – the definition of why they are considered special.
It said threatened species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, were being “illegally harvested” in 45% of World Heritage sites.
“Elephant poaching occurs in over 60% of the World Heritage sites containing African and Asian elephants,” the report said.
“Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania has lost almost 90% of its elephants since its inscription in 1982 and now has only 15 217 elephants left.”
The Okavango Delta, a World Heritage site in Botswana, was described as a “crucial habitat” for elephants in northern Botswana, which make up nearly a third of all remaining African elephants.
About a third of all the world’s remaining 3 890 wild tigers now live in World Heritage sites. Trying to stop poachers is difficult and dangerous, with many prepared to use lethal force.
“Wildlife trafficking has also often endangered people’s lives and, between 2009 and 2016, at least 595 rangers were killed in the line of duty,” the report said.
Chris Gee, the head of campaigns at WWF-UK, said poaching was “jeopardising the future heritage of these precious places and the people whose livelihoods depend on them”.
John Scanlon, the secretary general of Cites, said it was “essential” that these irreplaceable sites are fully protected: “In doing so, we will benefit our heritage and our wildlife, provide security to people and places, and support national economies and the rural communities that depend on these sites for their livelihoods,” he said.
Among some positive signs that the world is trying to deal with the problem, the report highlighted China’s decision to ban all trade in ivory by the end of this year as a “breakthrough”.
Inger Andersen, the director-general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said: “This report is a sobering reminder of just how far this type of organised crime can reach, extending even into the supposed safety of World Heritage sites.
“This is a global challenge that can only be tackled through collective, international action.” – The Independent