New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) A new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report has found that illegal poaching, logging and fishing occurs in nearly 30 per cent of natural and mixed World Heritage sites, driving endangered species to the brink of extinction and putting the livelihoods and well being of communities who depend on them at risk. It has therefore urged for additional and immediate measures to halt the worrying trend in illegal trafficking for international trade of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) -listed species in the world’s most ecologically important places, including World Heritage sites.
Known for their iconic beauty, geology, ecology and biodiversity, natural World Heritage sites across the globe support large populations of rare plant and animal species, including almost a third of the world’s remaining 3,890 wild tigers and 40 per cent of all African elephants, and function as the last refuge for critically endangered species such as Javan rhinos in Indonesia and vaquitas, the world’s smallest porpoise, endemic to Mexico’s Gulf of California. Director General at WWF International, Marco Lambertini said, ”Natural World Heritage sites are among the most recognised natural sites for their universal value. Yet many are threatened by destructive industrial activities and our new report shows that their often unique animals and plants are also affected by over exploitation and trafficking”. Unless they are protected effectively, we will lose them forever. Governments must redouble their efforts and address the entire wildlife trafficking value chain, before it’s too late, he said. ”We urgently need more collaboration and integration between CITES, the World Heritage Convention and national authorities to lead a more coordinated, comprehensive response to halt wildlife trafficking from harvesting of species in source countries, transportation through processing destinations, to sales in consumer markets,” Mr Lambertini said.
