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Kenya

UN adopts resolution to fight wildlife poaching

The three countries or territories most heavily involved in smuggling of ivory are Kenya, Tanzania and Hong Kong.

“This is a historic step made by the international community,” said Gabonese Foreign Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet.

“This phenomenon hampers investment, especially in areas where illicit activities are undertaken,” he said.

“It represents a real threat to the stability of our state.”

The resolution encourages member states to “adopt effective measures to prevent and counter” wildlife trafficking.

It concerns both regions where wildlife and poachers roam such as in some African countries and consumer countries such as those in Asia.

The resolution also calls for bolstered legislation at the national level to prevent, investigate and prosecute the illegal trade, and make such trafficking a “serious crime.”

Issoze-Ngondet, addressing another recent case of high-profile poaching, called the killing in Zimbabwe of Cecil the lion “a matter of deep concern” for African countries.

“Like most people in the world, we are outraged at what happened to this poor lion,” Germany’s UN envoy Harald Braun added.

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Conservation groups like the WWF and TRAFFIC welcomed the UN vote.

“This is an historic day,” said TRAFFIC executive director Steven Broad.

“The world has sent an unequivocal and collective signal at the highest-level that ending wildlife crime is a top priority.”

The WWF hailed what it called a “new phase” in the fight against wildlife crime.

“This landmark resolution proves that ending wildlife crime is no longer just an ‘environmental’ issue and not just limited to a few countries: it has become a priority for every nation,” said WWF International director general Marco Lambertini.

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