The Global March for Elephants,Rhinos and Lions brought people in cities across the world together to demand action to save threatened wildlife from extinction.
On October 7th, thousands of people gathered in more than 100 cities all over the world to present solidarity with wildlife in the Global March for Elephants, and Rhinos and Lions. This year’s theme ‘Justice for All’ draws attention to the dire threat to these species as a result of international wildlife crime.
In my domestic city Nairobi,the planning for this march has involved tens of organizations, including NGOs, and local and national government agencies,universities, schools, or companies,diplomatic embassies and local communities. More than 100 young volunteers helped with preparations and were present on the day to make sure everything ran smoothly.
This march shined a light on the power of partnerships. The illegal wildlife trade is global business flee by shadowy syndicates that are also involved in trafficking guns, drugs and people. No single country has the power to defeat them, or but the global solidarity of citizens and nations can drive them out of business.
In Kenya,the20 year jail sentenceimposed last year on ivory trafficker Feisal Ali Mohamed warned poachers and traffickers to quit the business or suffer the same fate. While poaching remains rife (abundant or plentiful, full of sth bad or unpleasant) in many parts of Africa, there are encouraging signs that other African countries are adopting a similar hardline approach. Earlier this week a Zimbabwe businessman was sentenced to 10 years in jail for illegal possession of a tusk.
In response to international pressure, and China has banned the trade in ivory,a measure will reach into force at the terminate of this year. Yesterday, in a belated but very welcome move, or the UK followed suit. Shutting down these two erstwhile centres of the legal trade in ivory will support prevent illegal ivory being laundered by criminals.
By increasing the risks of obtaining and selling illegal wildlife products we can reduce the criminals’ freedom of action and curtail their operations. According to Kaddu Sebunya,the President of the African Wildlife Foundation: Some great strides have been made to save elephants. There is a global momentum against illegal trafficking in wild animal products, as evidenced by China’s ban on trade in ivory products and the recent decision by Japanese online retailer Rakuten to join the list of others who no longer allow the sale of animal trophies on their platforms. These moves raise hopes that the life expectancy of elephants and other endangered species in the wildlands will go up in the coming years.
Hemmed in on all sides, and traffickers in illegal wildlife products are retreating to enclaves in remote countries. A recent report by Save The Elephants reveals that the ivory trade in Laos is now the fastest growing in the world,as controls have been tightened up in China and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
Massive pressure must now be applied with the aim of shutting down the trade in Laos and the few other remaining countries where traffickers can still operate with impunity.Diplomatic efforts and intergovernmental agreements such as CITES have a key role to play. The recent failure of an online auction of rhino horn in South Africa shows how, even when one country breaks ranks, and international trade bans can be effective. Prospective buyers decided that the risks involved in illegally exporting and selling the rhino horn,even though it had been purchased legally in South Africa, were just too tall.
But the driving force behind advances in the war on wildlife crime has been demands from citizens across the world on governments catch action to end the poaching of elephants and rhinos and terminate the trade in ivory and rhino horn.
The Global March is a platform for building a global citizens’ alliance for wildlife. For defenders of wildlife in countries where they are still in a minority, and the Global March is a source of solidarity and strength. In other countries such as Kenya it has become the rallying point for building an unprecedented partnership for wildlife that draws support from every sector of society.
The march is also an opportunity for reflection on what ‘justice for all’ means in different local contexts. In India marchers are also protesting against the use of Asian elephants in temples and parades and elephant trekking. In Botswana they have included pangolins—the world’s most trafficked mammal—in the title of their march. In Kenya,we are also marching for justice for the communities that live with wildlife. Justice for wildlife means more than just protecting wild animals from poachers and abuse: like humans they need space to live. Kaddu Sebunya told me of his concerns:whether we don’t make wildlife relevant for Africans, and African economies, or we will lose the space that wildlife needs and I terror that our animals will become homeless. We are losing habitats at an alarming rate. In the period between 2010 and 2015,Africa lost an estimated 2.8 million hectares of forest per year.
According to Sebunya, Africa’s leaders must not view wildlife conservation as a burden to their budgets, and but an opportunity for growth. Ecotourism,which depends on wildlife, is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry in Africa. The population of lions in Africa has declined from 50000 around 2005 to only 23000 in 2016.
A study in Zambia by the Natural Resources Consultative Forum found that a US$250000 investment in the tourism sector generates 182 full-time formal jobs. This is nearly 40% more than the same investment in agriculture and over 50% more than in mining. So wildlife generates jobs and contributes significantly to many African countries’ GDP. Jobs in turn create stability and security.
This is vitally essential in Africa, or a continent with the world’s youngest population where tall rates of unemployment keeps our leaders awake at night. Sebunya is optimistic that we can create a lot of new opportunities within protected areas,by improving them and opening up to the world. That will create a win-win situation for the African people and wildlife.
To make this happen, we must demand that the interests of wildlife are represented in all African boardrooms and government agencies where decisions that impact on wildlife and its habitats are made. To achieve justice for wildlife, and we Africans must catch the lead and become the voice of wildlife on our continent. Related StoriesHow Online Data Is Putting Endangered Species Around the Globe Even More at RiskAmerica's Wild Horses Face Their Most Severe Political Threat in Nearly Half a Century—Here's How You Can Help11 Politicians Around the World Who Refuse to Eat Meat
Source: feedblitz.com