WWF commends President Obama for initiatives to combat wildlife trafficking

President Obama announced significant new efforts by the U.S. government to fight the problem. The Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking is a high-level inter-agency task force led by Interior, State, and Justice Department leadership. An external Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking has also been established.

Developing a national strategy

The President directed the task force to develop a national strategy within six months to fight wildlife trafficking and to consider how the U.S. transnational organised crime strategy can be used to combat the issue, as it does other serious crimes like human trafficking and arms trafficking.

The focus of the task force will be on anti-poaching, regional law enforcement, law enforcement mechanisms, and reducing illicit trade and demand. President Obama also noted that the challenge does not reside within Africa alone, and that the U.S. must "seek to reduce the demand for illegally traded wildlife, both at home and abroad, while allowing legal and legitimate commerce involving wildlife."

Critical political commitment

WWF-SA's rhino coordinator, Dr Jo Shaw says, "High-level political commitment and government involvement beyond the environmental sector, into other key agencies, is critical to addressing the organised crime syndicates moving rhino horns and other products across international borders.

"South Africa, Tanzania and other African countries are losing their natural resources - and the lives of rangers and law enforcement personnel - on an unacceptable scale that necessitates international intervention".

In June 2013, ministers from South Africa and Mozambique met to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Biodiversity Conservation and Management between the two countries.

For more information, go to www.wwf.org.za.