Niger Field Assessment Report. Edited by Balinga M
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UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING NIGER FIELD ASSESSMENT REPORT Alice Stroud [Date] FEBRUARY 2020 UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING | NIGER 2 This document was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA BiCC) program. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. For more information on the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change program, contact: USAID/West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change Tetra Tech 2nd Labone Link, North Labone Accra, Ghana Tel: +233(0)302 788 600 Email: www.tetratech.com/intdev Website: www.wabicc.org Stephen Kelleher Chief of Party Accra, Ghana Tel: + 233 (0) 302 788 600 Email: [email protected] Vaneska Litz Project Manager Burlington, Vermont Tel.: +1 802 495 0577 Email: [email protected] Citation: Ministry of Environment, Urban Hygiene and Development, 2020. Understanding Threats to West African Biodiversity and Linkages to Wildlife Trafficking: Niger Field Assessment Report. Edited by Balinga M. and Stroud A. in 2020. Cover photo: A giraffe at a National Reserve. Credit: Jack Smith TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. iii Acronyms ................................................................................................................................. iv 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background information on NIGER ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 CITES trade context ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Objectives of the assessment ................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Methodology and scope of the assessment: ...................................................................................... 3 2.0 Assessment of wildlife trafficking at markets and entry points .................................. 4 2.1 Visit to the Market ................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Airport ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 2.3 Koure: Giraffe sanctuary ....................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Gaya: land border crossing post with benin .................................................................................... 11 2.5. Makalondi: Land Border Crossing post with Burkina Faso ........................................................ 13 2.6 Other site visits ...................................................................................................................................... 14 3.0 Overview of wildlife law enforcement ......................................................................... 17 3.1 Proactive enforcement as deterrent to wildlife trafficking ........................................................... 17 3.1.1Law enforcement Priority ........................................................................................................... 17 3.1.2 Serious crime ............................................................................................................................... 17 3.1.3 National law enforcement strategy ........................................................................................ 17 3.1.4 National cooperation ................................................................................................................. 17 3.1.5 International cooperation ......................................................................................................... 18 3.1.6 Strategic risk management ........................................................................................................ 18 3.1.7 Proactive investigations ............................................................................................................. 19 3.1.8 Staffing, recruitment and law enforcement training ........................................................... 19 3.2 Detection of wildlife trafficking by law enforcement agencies .................................................... 19 3.2.1 Targeted enforcement presence .............................................................................................. 19 3.2.2 Joint supportive operations ....................................................................................................... 19 3.2.3 Border control staff ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.4 Border control equipment ........................................................................................................ 20 3.2.5 Inspection and seizure powers ................................................................................................. 20 3.2.6 Disposal of confiscated wildlife specimens ............................................................................ 20 3.3 Wildlife trafficking thoroughly investigated using an intelligence-led approach....................... 22 3.3.1 Investigative capacity ................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.2 Information management ........................................................................................................... 22 3.3.3 Intelligence-led investigations and analysis ............................................................................. 22 3.3.4 Follow-up investigations ............................................................................................................. 22 3.4 Specialized investigative techniques used to combat wildlife trafficking .................................... 23 3.4.1 Use of specialized investigative techniques ............................................................................ 23 3.4.2 Forensic technology .................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.3 Financial investigations ................................................................................................................ 23 3.4.4 Use of criminal law ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.5 Case file preparation ................................................................................................................... 24 3.4.6 Case clearance rate and administrative penalties ................................................................ 24 3.4.7 Prosecutorial capacity ................................................................................................................. 24 3.4.8 Prosecution guidelines ................................................................................................................ 24 3.4.9 Available penalties ........................................................................................................................ 25 4.0 Conclusions and recommendations ............................................................................ 26 UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING | NIGER i 4.1 Trafficking routes and seizures ........................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Challenges raised by participants ........................................................................................................ 26 4.3 KEY recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 27 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 30 Annex I. Schedule of the assessment ................................................................................... 31 Annex II. List of participants interviewed ............................................................................ 32 Annex III: Commercial Trade in Wild Specimens .............................................................. 34 UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING | NIGER ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In concluding this study to assess wildlife-related crime in Niger and the need for a coordinated response to the situation, we would first like to thank Mr. Almoustapha Garba, Niger’s Minister of Environment, Urban Hygiene and Development (MESU/DD), for his support in this exercise. We also thank the following: Mr. Moussa Iro Morphy, the Director-General for Water and Forests (DG/EF); Mr. Samaila SAHAILOU, Director of Wildlife, Game, Parks and Reserves (DFC/PR); and Dr. SEYNI Abdoul-Aziz, Head of Wildlife Division, who coordinated this process. This report would not have been