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Bid to combat illegal wildlife trade in South Asia

JAIPUR: Environment ministers of South Asian countries meeting here have resolved to form a South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) to combat the ever increasing illegal trade in wildlife in the region, especially of flagship species such as tiger, elephant, rhinoceros and bear.

The ministers, who met here under the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), also decided to establish an expert group on illegal wildlife trade consisting of representatives from the eight member-countries.

The environment ministers of India, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives and environment secretaries from Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, who signed a Jaipur Declaration after deliberating on South Asia regional plan on wildlife trade, climate change, solid waste management and sustainable transport, expressed their grave concern over the status of wildlife in the member-countries, which otherwise are well endowed in flora and fauna.

The declaration, which resolved to establish the South Asia Experts’ Group on Illegal Wildlife Trade, also mandated the expert group to develop a detailed programme for implementing the South Asia Regional Strategic Plan on Illegal Wildlife Trade, 2008-2013, endorsed by members in the regional workshop in Kathmandu earlier this year. However the participants also noted that “legal harvesting and trade in wild species is an important and sustainable source of livelihood and income to many rural communities”.

The member-countries held discussions under the South Asian Seas (SAS) Programme and made long-term plans for protection and conservation of mangroves and coral reefs which provide resources and protect lives and property from cyclones and tsunamis. Representatives of five member-countries—India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Male and Pakistan—attended the SAS Programme meeting.

The SAS group decided to launch a campaign against dumping of solid waste on beaches and undertake projects to study the impact of climate change, especially the effect of rise in the sea level on human settlements and land environment. Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment Namonarain Meena, who presided over the meetings, said the pilot project on mangroves and coral reefs would be undertaken in Andaman and Lakshwadeep.

“The member-countries have committed to work together to strengthen regional cooperation on various pressing environmental issues,” said Mr. Meena briefing journalists at the end of a three-day conclave. The participants decided to strengthen the capacity of countries in chemical management, waste management and work together on a state of environment report on South Asia, he informed.

“A review of the status of wildlife in member-countries indicated many areas of grave concern. Many species are on the verge of extinction in India, Pakistan and Nepal,” said SACEP Director-General Arvind Anil Boaz.

“There is also a new area in which endangered plants too are threatened with extinction due to the emerging market in herbal medicines,” he added.

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