Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora Among Leading Forms of Transnational Organized Crime – WWF

The African Union in 2015 adopted the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa, but the implementation remains challenging.

From June 13 – 15, 2023, Douala hosted an international Capacity Building Workshop For National Institutions, Involved In Combating Wildlife Crime

Douala, precisely ‘Residence La Falaise’ Hotel at Akwa, from Tuesday, June 13 to Thursday, June 15, 2023, hosted an international capacity building workshop for national institutions involved in tracking and combating wildlife crime, and also technical forestry and wildlife officers in regional economic communities of the African Union. The workshop which was convened by Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), was organized by the reputed international conservation organization, WWF, with financial support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for Africa.

Participants From Across Africa

Participants to the workshop came from the African Union Commission (AUC) and the four Regional Economic Communities, that is, ECOWAS, EAC, SADC and ECCAS. Other conservation organizations and relevant stakeholders like LAGA were also invited to attend the workshop. Facilitators at the workshop were experts drawn from the African Union Commission, WWF, the World Customs Organization (WCO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, and TRAFFIC.

Main And Specific Objectives Of Workshop

The Douala workshop which had as overall objective to strengthen the capacities and cooperation of Africa’s wildlife authorities, to combat wildlife and forest crime on the continent, also had four specific objectives set by the organizers. The specific objectives included:

• To share experiences and knowledge on the modus operandi employed by illegal traders and traffickers, and develop common enforcements strategies.
• To enhance common understanding, build mutual trust among RECs and establish operational links and information sharing to better address transnational wildlife crime.
• To enhance awareness of political leaders, policy decision -makers and other relevant stakeholders in Africa on combating wildlife crime.
• To showcase emergencies best practices in the fight against illegal exploitation and trade in wild fauna and flora.

Context And Justification Of The Workshop

Meanwhile, WWF in an explanatory note on the context and justification for the three – day capacity building workshop, started by stating that wildlife crime includes any form of illegal exploitation and trade in wild fauna and flora, and that it is today among the leading forms of transnational organized crime alongside trafficking in drugs, and humans. “Over the years the menace has had direct and indirect impacts on Africa’s natural resources and heritage, as well as the continent’s legal and sustainable use of wildlife and potential revenue. It remains the greatest threat to populations of endangered wild species and has wide – ranging indirect impact on African societies, economies and the environment”. WWF asserted that in many African countries, the livelihood and socio – economic development of communities in both rural and urban areas depend heavily on the use of wild fauna and flora resources, and so the loss of African wildlife directly or indirectly affects the livelihoods of African people. “The illegal trade in Africa’s natural resources also deprives African States of revenues, hindering economic growth”.

Strategy Adopted By African Union

Meanwhile the African Union has not been unconcerned with the unsustainable use of African wild fauna and flora, as well as the increase in recent years of illegal trade in wild fauna and flora, undermining sustainable development, peace, security, rule of law and good governance. Concerned with the situation, the African Union in June 2015 adopted the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa. But WWF observed in the explanatory note that despite the laudable initiative by the African Union, many African countries lack the capacity to regulate the exploitation of their natural resources. “Taking advantage of weaknesses in the national law enforcement and justice systems, wildlife traffickers make billions of dollars using routes and techniques used by other criminals who traffic in other illicit commodities”. It was against this backdrop that WWF organized the three – day capacity building workshop with financial support from the FAO Regional office for Africa.

Opening Ceremony

Meanwhile speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day workshop on June 13, WWF’s Director of Congo Basin, Martin Kabaluapa, who deputized for WWF Cameroon Country Director, extended sincere gratitude to the African Union Commission, the Regional Economic Communities and member States, that kindly designated their representatives to the workshop. WWF also extended its deep appreciation to expert trainers (TRAFFIC, WCO, Interpol, and the EAGLE Network), for having accepted to contribute their expertise to the workshop. Of course the WWF did not forget to express profound gratitude to the FAO Regional Office for Africa, for the financial support that was given to organize the workshop. The Representative of Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife among other things said despite the difficulties and short comings, the fight against criminality in the exploitation and trade in Africa’s fauna and flora, continue to be an essential priority in all member States of the African Union. He said it was for this reason that the Douala workshop was convened to reinforce the capacity of the four Regional Economic Communities of the African Union. The Minister’s representative said Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife was at that occasion renewing its engagement to pursue its policy of sustainable management of the natural resources -fauna and flora. He reaffirmed MINFOF’s disposition to collaborate with conservation organizations in the fight against wildlife crime.

Scoping Wildlife Crime In Africa

It should be that the first presentation at the three- day workshop was on: Scoping Wildlife Crime in Africa and Strategic responses. An overview of wildlife crime (Poaching and illegal trade), causes, methods and impacts. This was followed by a question and answer session that was as well followed by the second presentation which was on African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora. That presentation was followed by a Group Work Session, during which participants discussed Key Strategic Gaps and Weaknesses of the African Strategy, and made recommendations for the Improvement of the Strategy.

Organizers And Partners Expressed Satisfaction At The End

Meanwhile at the closing ceremony of the three –day international workshop in the late afternoon of Thursday, June 13, 2023, each participant received a certificate of participation at the workshop, which ended on a satisfactory note. As the FAO Forestry Officer for Central Africa, Dr Jeremie Mbairamadji, who represented FAO of the United Nations asserted in his closing remarks, the workshop was very rich as regard the content of the presentations, discussions, as well as in experiences shared both during plenary sessions and group work. The WWF Congo Basin Director, Martin Kabaluapa, who represented the WWF Cameroon Country Director at the workshop, congratulated all participants for their active participation, and expressed the hope that the participants will on their return to their different bases or countries, put into effective use the knowledge gained at the Douala workshop. On his part, the representative of Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife congratulated all the participants that took part in the Douala workshop, and expressed the hope that the collaboration between the African Union, national institutions and conservation organizations, will continue in the fight against wildlife and forest crimes on the continent.