Geneva, 24 September 2024 — Reducing the demand for illegally traded wildlife products is a critical strategy in the fight against wildlife crime. Well-regulated, legal and sustainable trade in wildlife contributes to tangible benefits for local communities who closely rely on nature. Illegal trade, on the other hand, threatens livelihoods and the survival of species in the wild for future generations. Addressing this challenge requires not just strong law enforcement but also efforts to change consumer behaviour and reduce the allure of products used for medicine, furniture, fashion, status symbols or investment. As the global framework for regulating trade in specimens of more than 40,000 wild species of animals and plants, the Signatory Parties (183 countries and the European Union) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aim to develop strategies to ensure international trade in wildlife is sustainable, legal and traceable.
From 10-11 September 2024, the first CITES training workshop for the African region on demand reduction strategies to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species was held in Lusaka, Zambia. The workshop was also the first ever regional event of its kind to take place on the African continent. It was organized by the CITES Secretariat and hosted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Zambia (the CITES Management Authority of Zambia) with the generous support of China and the European Union.
As part of the series of regional training seminars organized by the CITES Secretariat and mandated by the CoP19 Decisions on demand reduction, the workshop aimed to build the capacity of CITES Parties and their key partners in the African region promoting the use of the CITES Guidance for CITES Parties to Develop and Implement Demand Reduction Strategies to Combat Illegal Trade in CITES‐listed Species. The Guidance was endorsed by Parties at the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP19) in November 2022. The focus of the Guidance is a ‘five-step approach’ which includes market research to establish evidence-based methodologies to understand the drivers and dynamics of demand, and the development of specific messaging for target audiences to effectively bring about behavioural change of key consumers.
Mr Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism welcomed participants and pointed out the importance of the demand reduction of wildlife products in the African context. Mr James Wakiaga. Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zambia highlighted the cooperation between UNDP and the CITES Secretariat in wildlife conservation and the importance of demand reduction in the fight against illicit trafficking of wildlife (see the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on Tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife).
Following the opening ceremony, the CITES Secretariat introduced the participants to the origin of the concept of demand reduction and importance of well-targeted demand reduction strategies in CITES to achieve behavioural change. TRAFFIC provided detailed explanations on the ‘five-step approach’ of the Guidance. The Wildlife Conservation Society shared reflections and lessons learnt on demand reduction in central Africa.
During the exercise segment of the workshop, Parties chose priority species in their respective countries for the use of the approach in country work plans. Although many motivations for demand in illegal wildlife products exist, the demand for illegally sourced wild meat or bushmeat was found to be the most common form of demand in many countries in Africa, involving a number of CITES-listed species. Such demand originates from both rural and urban populations, the latter being the focus of CITES, in particular regarding specimens that are illegally imported from other countries. The common challenges identified by Parties present at the training workshop were promoting alternative livelihoods, lack of expertise and funding. In the meantime, inspiring case studies of previous demand reduction campaigns in central Africa and the host country of Zambia presented during the workshop demonstrated reason for hope and the way forward.
Upon the successful conclusion of the meeting, CITES Secretary-General Ms Ivonne Higuero said: “We are pleased to see the growing recognition of the role of demand reduction for illegal wildlife products in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Law enforcement alone will not end illegal wildlife trade which depletes our most valuable ecosystems, endangers species, undermines livelihoods and exposes us all to public health risks. Demand reduction is part of the three-pronged approach to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species, the other two being law enforcement and improvement of livelihoods.”
The information and resources exchanged at this first regional demand reduction training workshop serve as a critical component of the CITES three-pronged approach to complement law enforcement efforts to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species. The CITES Guidance for CITES Parties to Develop and Implement Demand Reduction Strategies to Combat Illegal Trade in CITES‐listed Species is available in English, French and Spanish.
___________________
Editor’s Notes:
For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
For general enquiries, please contact [email protected]
About CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975. With 184 Parties (183 countries + the European Union), it remains one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of international trade in over 40,900 species of wild animals and plants. CITES-listed species are used by people around the world in their daily lives for food, health care, furniture, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. CITES seeks to ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable and contributes to both the livelihoods of the communities that live closest to them and to national economies for a healthy planet and the prosperity of the people in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Follow CITES on social media:
Find out more: https://cites.org/eng