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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for illegal wildlife trading
1 results foundAuthor: Rossi, Alessandra Title: Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment Summary: The report, "Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment," produced by TRAFFIC as part of the USAID-funded Wildlife TRAPS Project, provides a comprehensive look at Uganda's illegal and legal wildlife trade, poaching trends, and wildlife trafficking routes over the last 10-15 years. Uganda is home to a spectacularly diverse array of wildlife, housing more than half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, 50% of Africa's bird species, almost 40% of Africa's mammal species, and 19% of Africa's amphibian species. "Uganda's incredible biological diversity is one of the world's great treasures, and the rightful heritage of all Ugandans," says Mark Meassick, Mission Director of the USAID Mission to Uganda. "Successfully managing wildlife conservation is not only fundamental to achieving Uganda's sustainable development goals, it is our collective responsibility to future generations." Despite serving as a trafficking hub, the majority of Uganda's wildlife does not face major threats from organized poaching inside the country's borders. Elephant poaching is less of a concern in Uganda as compared to ivory trafficking, although some poaching episodes are still registered by the authorities. In fact, Uganda's elephant population has increased slightly in recent years. Terrestrial smuggling routes exist between Uganda and neighbors Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and extend to at least the Central African Republic. The main international destinations for wildlife products being smuggled from Uganda are China and Viet Nam. "Uganda relies on its wildlife and natural resources to support its economy, growth and development through tourism. Wildlife conservation and sustainable use are therefore paramount for the country's global development objectives," says TRAFFIC's Alessandra Rossi, author of the assessment. The report also provides an overview of the main bird, reptile and mammal species in Uganda that are legally and illegally traded. Birds: Uganda has seen a decrease in the legal bird trade since 2006, which can be attributed to a number of factors including habitat degradation and stricter protection measures put in place and enforced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The most targeted species for illicit trade taking place in Uganda are the Grey Crowned-crane (the national bird of Uganda) and the Shoebill. Reptiles: Reptiles were traded mainly between 2000 and 2005, with a prevalence of trade in chameleon species, followed by the Leopard Tortoise. Trade declined between 2005 and 2009 for most reptile species before resuming slowly from 2009 to 2014. Overall, though, the reptile trade is in decline, due to dwindling wild populations and a change in UWA's management strategy to promote trade in captive bred species. The illegal trade in reptiles often runs alongside the legal trade, largely due to the difficulty in identifying reptile shipments. Mammals: Hippopotamus teeth are heavily traded between Uganda and Hong Kong. Despite a ban in 2014 to protect declining hippopotamus populations, this trade has continued illegally in Uganda. Poaching of mammals in Uganda is practiced mainly for meat and due to human-wildlife conflict, with the exception of pangolins, which have been heavily targeted for poaching and trafficking in the country. Between 2012-2016, over 1,400 pangolins were seized in Uganda. To reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking in Uganda, the report offers recommendations for governments, conservation groups and the donor community to take action. They include suggestions for strengthening law enforcement and managing ivory stocks, as well as wildlife seizure and trade information, increasing regional collaboration, and working with communities to raise awareness around wildlife conservation issues. FOR MORE INFORMATION: View the full report Photos for media use Report Citation: Rossi, A. (2018). Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, United Kingdom. About IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. About Wildlife TRAPS The USAID-funded Wildlife Trafficking, Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project is an initiative that is designed to secure a transformation in the level of co-operation between an international community of stakeholders who are impacted by illegal wildlife trade between Africa and Asia. The project is designed to increase understanding of the true character and scale of the response required, to set priorities, identify intervention points, and test non-traditional approaches with project partners. About USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for the majority of overseas development assistance from the United States Government and leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people on their journey to self-reliance. About UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is a semi-autonomous government agency that conserves and manages Uganda's wildlife for the people of Uganda and the whole world. This agency was established in 1996 after the merger of the Uganda National Parks and the Game Department, and the enactment of the Uganda Wildlife Statute, which became an Act in 2000. UWA is mandated to ensure sustainable management of wildlife resources and supervise wildlife activities in Uganda both within and outside the protected areas. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2018. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2018 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27882787/1523867065007/Uganda+Wildlife+Assessment_FINAL.pdf?token=JL3Pc0bxP725CIqZ38NV%2FBfUG0s%3D Year: 2018 Country: Uganda URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27882787/1523867065007/Uganda+Wildlife+Assessment_FINAL.pdf?token=JL3Pc0bxP725CIqZ38NV%2FBfUG0s%3D Shelf Number: 149798 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradingIvorySmugglingTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |