Thailand and the U.S. Co-sponsored Historic UN Resolution to Tackle Wildlife Trafficking

Elephants(Photo credit:  UNEP GRID Arendal/Peter Prokosch)

On July 30, 2015, Thailand, along with other nations including the U.S., co-sponsored a historic resolution on “Tackling the Illicit Trafficking in Wildlife.” According to the United Nations, through this new resolution, the General Assembly expressed serious concern over the steady rise in the level of rhino poaching and the alarmingly high levels of killings of elephants in Africa, which threaten those species with extinction.

 

UNGAAdopting a consensus resolution, Governments are encouraged to adopt effective measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products, including flora and fauna and poaching. More information about the resolution can be found on the UN website at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51536#.Vcyj6PlVikp.

(Photo credit: CITES Secretariat)

 

WWF-Thailand’s Director commended the move, saying that “while progress is being made to end the illegal ivory trade within Thailand, the government has joined the international community in its fight against wildlife trafficking. This year Thailand passed its first ever piece of legislation to control the domestic ivory trade and made African elephants a protected species in Thailand.” Read the WWF-Thailand’s media release on the issue here.
ASEAN WEN

 

Thailand will continue to make efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in compliance with our obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We will also strengthen our cooperation with ASEAN members and our dialogue partners, including the U.S. through the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).

(Photo credit: ASEAN-WEN)

 

—————————–

Thanida Menasavet