EU urged to enforce wildlife trade legislation[de] 

The EU could do a lot more to control illegal trade in endangered species of flora and fauna, claims the report as more than 170 governments prepare to meet on 3-15 June for the 14th meeting of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the Hague, Netherlands.

The report by TRAFFIC  – a joint programme of the WWF and the World Conservation Union IUCN - says the EU is the largest importer by value of many wild animal and plant products, including tropical timber, caviar, reptile skins and live reptiles - estimating that the legal trade of wildlife products into the EU alone was worth €93 billion in 2005. Such trade includes snakeskin handbags and shoes, and rare reptiles, as well as snooker cues made of ramin – a tropical hardwood tree.

"As EU membership has expanded, so has the size of the market and the demand for wildlife products," said the head of TRAFFIC Europe, Rob Parry. "While much wildlife trade is legal, we cannot ignore the growing illegal trade stemming from the demand for exotic pets, timber, and other wildlife products. This is a serious threat to the survival of species such as reptiles and sturgeons," he said. 

Commenting on the report, Delia Villagrasa, an advisor to the WWF’s European Policy Office, calls upon the EU to adopt a "clear strategic plan that guarantees external assistance to countries where wildlife products originate, to ensure their trade is sustainable." 

TRAFFIC question the Union’s legislative efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, arguing that import suspensions do not necessarily address conservation concerns. Meanwhile, illegal trade continues to have a severe impact on the livelihoods of rural communities and national economies. 

The report follows Parliament’s recent warning that the Commission’s 2006 Action Plan on biodiversity is "insufficient to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services in the longer term", and that "unprecedented efforts" are required if the decline in biodiversity is to be halted (EurActiv 23/05/07).