Wildlife crime just got personal
The illegal trade in wildlife is one of the threats that is driving species to the brink of extinction and poses environmental, economic, development and security risks.
Even if many species are protected by national and international laws like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) poachers ignores them.
Also, “llegal trade in wild animals and plants is not limited to endangered or threatened species. The sale of timber, firewood and charcoal stemming from illegal logging or trade in fish that are caught in restricted areas or using illegal methods are, for example, also included within the term illegal trade in wildlife.”
With this in mind the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Wild for Life campaign which “is part of an ambitious agenda that is being driven by the UN which recognizes wildlife crime as a serious crime and a threat to our shared sustainable development.”
More so it follows the Sustainable Development Goal#15 which has as one of its targets to “take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.”
The campaign webpage allows to take a quiz and find your kindred species followed by a quick description. For example, “elephants are intelligent, emotional creatures. Herd leaders are often chosen not for their dominance but rather for their intelligence and problem solving skills.”
They constantly update the species featured in the webpage and use celebrities’ collaboration to spread the word. For example, here are Gael Garcia Bernal and Adrian Grenier spots.
They invite you to stand with the United Nations and nearly 4.5 million others who have engaged in the campaign and pledge zero tolerance to illegal trade.
LatinAmerican Post | Maria Andrea Marquez
