UN-backed trust fund launched to protect African elephants

UN-backed trust fund launched to protect African elephants

2011-08-20 07:14:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- A United Nations backed meeting on wildlife conservation and international trade has decided on the launching of a trust fund to ensure the long-term survival of the African elephant population, among other measures to protect various endangered species, the UN reported on Friday.

The 61st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concluded on Friday with important decisions to ensure the survival of a number of endangered species, including elephants, rhinoceros and snakes.

The meeting was attended by some 300 participants from all over the world, including observers from the CITES member countries, intergovernmental bodies, business community and non-governmental organizations specialized in wildlife conservation and international trade.

Several countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and France have already contributed to the multi-donor technical trust for the implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan, and more were encouraged to do so during the meeting.

"We expect that donors will hear the urgent needs of Africa and support the implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan," said John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES, whose secretariat is administered by the UN Environment Program (UNEP).

"The target is to raise $100 million over the next three years to enhance law enforcement capacity and secure the long-term survival of African elephant populations," Scanlon added.

The committee based its conclusions considering alarming reports on elephant and rhino poaching in several parts of Asia and Africa, including illegal trade in rhino horns and elephant ivory.

Elephant conservation and new financial mechanisms were among several issues on the agenda of the CITES meeting, in addition to measures to reduce current levels of poaching of rhinos, tigers and other big cats, illegal trade in mahogany and other timber species, the fate of sturgeon and caviar trade, and the sourcing of reptile skins used in the leather industry.

CITES is an international agreement between governments which entered into force in July 1975 and aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival. So far, 175 States have joined the conservation agreement.

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