New initiative to tackle wildlife trade in South Asia

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SACEP to combat illegal trade in wildlife in South Asia

 

 

Jaipur, May 22 (PTI) The South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme

(SACEP) today made its " Jaipur Declaration " suggesting measures to combat

illegal trade in wildlife in South Asian countries including India and

Pakistan.

" The 11th meeting of SACEP has decided to support the South Asia Initiative

for combating illegal trade in wildlife " , Union Minister of State for

Environment and Wildlife Namonarayan Meena, told a press conference here.

 

The meeting which was attended by the environment ministers of four South

Asian countries also recommended a regional action plan and the formation of

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in the next two years, he

said.

 

Apart from India and Pakistan the other South Asian countries covered by the

declaration are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Republic of Maldives, Srilanka and

Nepal.

 

The delcaration recommends creation of the South Asia Experts Group by

member countries to check illegal trade in wildlife, specially in tiger,

rhinoceros, elephant and lion, the minister said.

 

The group would meet periodically to provide a forum for the development of

regional wildlife programmes through networking, sharing and effective

dissemination of knowledge and information, Meena said.

 

The expert group will be entrusted with the task of developing a detailed

programme for implementing the South Asia Regional Strategic Plan on Illegal

Wildlife Trade with assistance of SACEP and other partners, the Minister

said.

 

Illegal trade in wild animals and plants poses a major challenge to the

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in South Asia, Meena said.

PTI