BIFAlink


Legal Eagle


www.bifa.org


was launched in December 2014 with 12 signatories to the Buckingham Palace Declaration committing to: • The adoption of a zero tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade,


• Increasing staff and customer awareness about the nature, scale and consequences of illegal wildlife trade,


• The promotion of the Buckingham Palace Declaration to the wider transport sector,


• Information sharing and detection, • Practical measures to stop the transportation of illegal wildlife products,


• Support the development of new mechanisms tackling wildlife trade.


Signatories now number almost 100


companies and organisations including airlines, shipping lines, government agencies, NGOs and individual transport operators. In September, BIFA will attend the Heathrow


Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Forum to hear from a range of organisations seeking to raise awareness of the issue amongst staff dealing with both passengers and cargo, with a view to detecting and preventing the movement of suspicious products through Heathrow Airport. Examples of wildlife products illegally


trafficked include: • Big cats - Teeth, claws and bones as status symbols and for use in traditional medicines, - Furs and skins for clothing and rugs.


• Elephants - Ivory tusks traded as is, or carved into ornaments and jewellery,


United for Wildlife


Since signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration during 2017, BIFA representatives have attended a number of events hosted by the Royal Foundation United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce.


United for Wildlife is the main conservation campaign led by The Duke of Cambridge, bringing together seven of the world’s global conservation organisations to create a global movement for change. United for Wildlife is working to address all


aspects of the illegal wildlife product supply chain from source to market and the Transport Taskforce exists to identify and eliminate the international transport of these products through increased awareness at all levels within the transport sector.


12 The illegal wildlife trade is valued at between


$5-20 billion per year; it is the fourth most lucrative global crime after drugs, humans and arms. The illegal wildlife trade fuels instability and criminality in demand and supply countries. The United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce


- Hides for clothes, jewellery and furnishings,


- Body parts for meat, jewellery and display purposes.


• Pangolins - Meat, - Scales, blood and body parts for use in traditional medicines,


- Skins and scales for clothing and ornaments.


• Rhinos - Horns as a status symbol or for use in traditional medicines.


United for Wildlife is a partner in ROUTES, Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species. A number of awareness and training resources are available to download from http://routespartnership.org/industry- resources.


For further information visit: www.royalfoundation.com/ and www.unitedforwildlife.org


September 2018


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20