Illegal trade in wildlife resources, including timber and fisheries, has grown to crisis
levels in recent years and more particularly poaching of elephants and trafficking of their ivory. Poachers and traffickers have become bolder with the fact that they are now equipped with state of the art equipment and technology and most of all, there’s more demand for these treasures.
The major source states of poached ivory are in sub-Saharan Africa, with factors like civil strife, cross-border wars and lack of stable governments linked to the increase in this trafficking. An example of this is how the constant strife at our neighbour Somalia has been reported to be a major cause of the increase in cross border poaching activities
Besides Kenya being a source state, ivory and rhino horn are trafficked from airports and other transport hubs and routes including both sea and air, have been used as transit points for illicit exports from Kenya and other regions and thousands of tonnes of ivory are seized annually at these and other ports of the world.
Wildlife trafficking not only threatens species survival; it spreads disease, fuels corruption, supports organized criminal activities, encourages unrest and damages the environment.
It is with this that the Kenya Airways has signed up to the Buckingham Palace Declaration, which aims to curb trading on illegal wildlife products at major transportation hubs.
The United for Wildlife (UfW), is an unprecedented alliance among the world’s most influential conservation organizations and the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Already, a total of 89 airlines and organizations have signed to the declaration including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African Airlines Association, Association of South Pacific airlines and the International Airlines Group.
Speaking at the workshop last week, Sebastian Mikosz, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO said: “This underlines our unquestionable commitment to zero tolerance policy against illegal wildlife trafficking and trade. It is vital that the private sector work in collaboration with all the government agencies and international partners to scale up the response to conservation challenges. Kenya Airways is a key player in the industry and we stand for sustainable tourism.”
The initiative brings high-level leaders from the transport industry together with representatives from across the world of conservation, along with organizations already engaged in initiatives designed to curb trafficking.
Ending wildlife trafficking through airports
The ROUTES partnership is an innovative program, funded by USAID, that unites international conservation organizations and governments to address the increase in wildlife trafficking misusing the services of the transportation and logistics industry.
One of the ways that ROUTES partnership aims to do this is by conducting workshops – like this one – for airline and airport staff and bring extensive experience providing comprehensive solutions and expert trainers to combat wildlife trafficking through airports
Creating awareness is one key component and other holistic approaches requiring efforts on many different fronts are needed. The organizations of the ROUTES partnership have continues to conduct extensive campaigns to reduce the demand for wildlife products that is fuelling the poaching of many endangered species.
