HALTING the ILLEGAL TRADE of CITES SPECIES from WORLD HERITAGE SITES NOT for SALE a REPORT for WWF By
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REPORT 2017 HALTING THE ILLEGAL TRADE OF CITES SPECIES FROM WORLD HERITAGE SITES NOT FOR SALE A REPORT For WWF BY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The report was written by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, and the team comprised Wijnand de Wit, Ellie Marsh and Anders Kjemtrup. This report was made possible by the generous contributions of time and expert knowledge from many individuals and organizations, and we would like to thank the following people: Tim Badman (IUCN), Remco Van Merm (IUCN), Naomi Kingston (UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Kelly Malsch (UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Yichuan Shi (UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Susan Lieberman (Wildlife Conservation Society), David Newton (TRAFFIC), Pia Jonsson (CITES Secretariat), Milena Sosa Schmidt (CITES Secretariat), Tom De Meulenaer (CITES Secretariat), Mechtild Rössler (UNESCO World Heritage Centre), Richard Veillon (UNESCO World Heritage Centre), Susanna Kari (UNESCO World Heritage Centre), Ambassador Pekka Puustinen (Permanent Representative of Finland to the OECD and UNESCO), Guy Debonnet (Independent expert), WWF and its offices. This study was also invaluably shaped by the thought partnership of several colleagues at Dalberg. WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. The designation of geographical entities in this report, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WWF concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Published in April 2017 by WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund), Gland, Switzerland. Any reproduction in full or in part must mention the title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. © Text 2017 WWF All rights reserved Design: Ender Ergun ISBN 978-2-940529-57-5 Printed by Echo Brand Communications COVER IMAGE © Alamy Stock Photo Paper from responsible sources WWF International Dalberg Avenue du Mont-Blanc Rue de Chantepoulet 7 1196 Gland, Switzerland 1201 Geneva, Switzerland www.panda.org www.Dalberg.com Contents Forewords Foreword from CITES Secretary-General John E. Scanlon 4 Foreword from IUCN Director General Inger Andersen 5 WWF’S call FOR action 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10 INTRODUCTION: WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND TRADE IN CITES-LISTED SPECIES 12 THREATS: ILLEGAL HARVESTING OF CITES-LISTED SPECIES FROM WORLD HERITAGE SITES 16 CASE STUDIES Case Study: Tropical rainforest heritage of Sumatra 21 Case Study: Rainforests of the Atsinanana Madagascar 24 Case Study: The World Heritage sites of eastern DRC 27 SOLUTIONS: INCREASING COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITES AND THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION 29 Case Study: How the Thai government combats the illegal trade in Siamese rosewood 31 THE PATH FORWARD 3 4 ANNEX I 36 ANNEX II 43 ENDNOTES 45 PROTECTING OUR HERITAGE FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET FOREWORD FROM CITES SECRETARY-GENERAL JOHN E. SCANLON It gives me great pleasure to join the diminishes the outstanding launch of this thought provoking universal values that underpinned report prepared by Dalberg on their recognition as part of the behalf of WWF. world’s heritage, with many sites being placed on the World Heritage For many decades now, there have in Danger list over recent years. been various reviews and reports on synergies amongst the biodiversity- For these ‘jewels in the crown’ of related conventions. Within the our planet’s natural heritage to CITES community, the clear focus retain their World Heritage status, has been on pragmatic action and to ensure the survival of John E. Scanlon orientated synergies, in particular some of our most vulnerable wild CITES Secretary-General as they affect individual species or animals and plants, it is essential places. This report gives expression that CITES is fully implemented to a range of options to further and that these irreplaceable sites enhance tangible synergies between are fully protected. In doing so, CITES and the World Heritage we will benefit our heritage and Convention, focussed around World our wildlife, provide security to Heritage sites. people and places, and support national economies and the rural Many of the World Heritage communities that depend on these sites designated for their natural sites for their livelihoods. - or mixed cultural and natural - significance, have been designated This report is not intended to because they host important provide a prescriptive way forward populations of iconic species of but to stimulate further thinking and wild animals and plants. The same a rich debate. As Secretary-General wildlife is also often targeted by of CITES, I look forward to engaging transitional organised groups with our Parties and partners in and poached and smuggled at such a discussion and thank WWF an industrial scale. This in turn for producing this timely report. Not for sale: Halting the illegal trade of cites species from world heritage sites 4 FOREWORDS ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Foreword From IUCN Director General Inger Andersen Illegal wildlife trafficking is a tragedy sites. Consider the Sumatran rhinos, pushing many plants and animals to the of which less than 100 remain, mostly brink of extinction and undermining confined to Indonesia’s Tropical years of conservation action. Despite Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, or global efforts to protect species listed the Critically Endangered totoaba and under the Convention on International vaquita, both endemic to Mexico’s Gulf Trade in Endangered Species of Wild of California. Fauna and Flora (CITES) against This is a global challenge that can overexploitation and illegal killing, only be tackled through collective, organised criminals continue to target international action. Inger Andersen precious biodiversity, even in the IUCN Director General supposed safety of World Heritage sites. As the world’s largest conservation organisation, IUCN welcomes this If the protection of wildlife cannot be report on the harvest of CITES-listed fully secured within these sites, singled species from World Heritage sites as out by the international community a sobering reminder of the extent of as the most valuable of our natural illicit and unsustainable trade. The heritage, how can we achieve the report draws attention to the crucial sustainable future we all long for? importance of the rule of law in nature The illegal harvest of species for conservation. When that rule is lacking, international trade now threatens it not only threatens wildlife and robs the integrity of some of the most us of our natural heritage; it erodes iconic natural areas. These include security, threatens local communities the Rainforests of the Atsinanana in who depend on healthy ecosystems Madagascar, threatened by the trade for their livelihoods, and slows in rosewood and ebony, and the Selous development and poverty reduction. Game Reserve in Tanzania, afflicted by IUCN continues to support the elephant poaching. World Heritage Convention as its In fact, today wildlife trafficking advisory body on nature, and CITES threatens nearly all of the 18 natural as a technical advisor – roles it has sites on the List of World Heritage in played since the establishment of both Danger, degrading the unique values conventions. These crucially important which give these places the status conservation instruments must lead of World Heritage. The targeted on action to tackle the growing global species are at times so rare that their crisis in illegal wildlife trade head- survival largely depends on their strict on, before some of our most precious protection in these World Heritage threatened species are lost forever. Not for sale: Halting the illegal trade of cites species from world heritage sites 5 WWF calls on World WWF’S CALL FOR Heritage Convention states parties and COLLECTIVE GLOBAL ACTION parties to CITES to: • Increase collaboration between World Heritage sites, the pinnacle of Earth’s the CITES and World Heritage most protected areas, contain some of the Convention secretariats1, planet’s most treasured species. Natural World between the World Heritage Heritage sites are places of iconic beauty, geology, Committee and the CITES ecology and biodiversity, and are often granted the Standing Committee, and between highest possible levels of national protection. Many national representatives of both World Heritage sites host large populations of rare conventions, to further promote a plant and animal species, including almost a third systematic, international approach of all remaining wild tigers, and 40 per cent of all to halting wildlife trafficking that African elephants. holds governments to account for their actions. This builds on Despite the protection accorded to World the World Heritage Committee’s Heritage sites and their wildlife, the number 2016 appeal to all Member States of threatened species being harvested from to “cooperate in the fight against them is cause for serious concern. International the illicit trafficking of cultural trade in many species is