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| [PHOTO: Special Arrangements] |
Lyon: The European Commission (EC) is to contribute nearly two
million euros to INTERPOL in support of its efforts to combat wildlife crime
and protect the world’s natural resources from the illegal international trade
in wild flora and fauna, including illegally harvested timber.
Over the next three years, the EC funding worth EUR 1.73
million will support the world police body’s Project Combat Wildlife Crime
under the umbrella of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime
(ICCWC) which also includes the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, the UN Office of Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), the World Bank (WB), and the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
Founded in November 2010, the ICCWC is a collaborative
effort to provide coordinated support to national wildlife law enforcement
agencies and sub-regional and regional networks to contribute to the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and promote better governance
for the management of natural resources in developing countries.
Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment,
said "Few people witness environmental crime, but its effects are global,
with developing countries often suffering most of all. Increase in wildlife
trafficking is of particular concern, with illegal trade in ivory and
rhinoceros horns at their highest levels in a decade, and other endangered
species like tiger or some tropical timber also impacted. It's a major cause of
biodiversity loss, and this funding will help enforcement and international
cooperation to address this worrying phenomenon. It should also build trust
with our partners, and show we are serious about fighting biodiversity loss
around the globe."
INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble commended the EC’
s decision to provide funding for the project, which he said recognized the
worldwide impact of environmental and wildlife crime and the role of INTERPOL’s
global network in addressing it.
“This support from the European Commission will
significantly assist INTERPOL and its partners under the ICCWC to more
effectively tackle the theft of natural resources from some of the poorest
countries in the world and target the criminals who are making millions in this
illicit trade,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
“Results can only be achieved through cooperation, and
INTERPOL will continue its work in providing a global law enforcement response
to this problem which affects every region of the world, ” added the INTERPOL
Chief.
Project Combat Wildlife Crime is aimed at ensuring long-term
capacity building, improved international information and intelligence exchange,
and the coordination of enforcement efforts through the support of government
authorities in the wildlife and forestry administration from source, transit
and consumer countries. At a broader
level, it will also contribute to better governance and the fight against
corruption.
Key activities include the analysis of capacity needs
supported by the provision of technical and financial assistance to countries
where gaps are identified; development and hosting of capacity building
programmes including training materials, courses and workshops; and the
deployment of Incident Response Teams to undertake targeted enforcement actions
in conjunction with developing countries.