H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, participated in the ‘London Conference on the Illegal Trade in Wildlife’ held from February 12 to 13, 2014. Representatives from 46 countries and 11 international organizations attended the conference to provide more support and political commitment to fight wildlife crimes.

H.E. Bin Fahad led the UAE’s delegation which comprised H.E Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of Environment Authority – Abu Dhabi; HE Abdulrahman Ghanem Almutaiwee; the State Ambassador in UK; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Economic Affairs Department Officer; H.E Abdul Rahim Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, Ministry of Environment and Water; H.E Yousef Al Sahlawi, senior executive director for institutional affairs at Dubai Customs., Dubai Customs and Hasan Al Hammadi, Dubai Customs General Headquarters.

The conference focused on measures to combat illegal trade of wildlife animals, including rhinoceros, tigers and elephants and their tusks, an unlawful activity worth over USD 19 billion per year. The illegal trade not only limits economic opportunities in developing countries but it also threatens the existence of these animals. Representatives from different countries, including Botswana, Chad, China, Gabon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tanzania, Vietnam, the US, Russia and UAE, signed an agreement to stop the demand for wildlife products, enhance the enactment of law, and support the development of sustainable living for communities affected by wildlife crimes.

The Minister of Environment and Water assured UAE’s continuous support for international efforts to fight wildlife trade. The ministry has taken vital steps geared towards this goal. Several legislative measures were passed to impose harsh punishment on those engaged in illegal trade of wildlife species in line with the international conventions and agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The country has also strengthened its processes and procedures on its boarder ports. It launched its green customs initiative and reinforced its control procedures. H.E Bin Fahad said Emirati authorities have stopped several   illegal trades in the past two years, confiscating more than 2,300 banned materials and an estimated 500 ivory horns.

The London Conference covered landmark and crucial arrangements to combat the illegal trade. The agreements include providing support for the international embargo on trade of elephant ivory, stopping the trade of endangered species and their products and amending the existing legislations to consider illegal trade and hunt of wildlife animals as a serious crime as defined by UN convention on fighting global organized crime. The participants also agreed to embark on in-depth studies to better highlight the connection among wildlife crimes, terrorism, corruption and other organized crimes.

H.E. Bin Fahad reiterated the need to establish integrated international efforts for capacity building and provide financial and technical support to countries that have the highest illegal trade activities. He said it is vital to strengthen the methods of sharing information among countries and relevant organizations, strictly implement national and international policies and procedures, pass harsher punishments for illegal trade, and boost educational programs to teach the public about the economic, social and ecologic consequences of illegal trade.

The London Conference was held amidst the alarming increase in the demand for illegal wildlife products. From 2007 to 2012, rhinoceros hunting increased at a ratio of one animal for every 10 hours. Central Africa has lost two-thirds of its elephants since 2004, while western black rhinoceros were declared extinct last year.