EU leads the import of wildlife products

According to the latest report of TRAFFIC (wildlife trade monitoring network). The European Union (EU) tops the list of key importers of DDTVHD wildlife products, including tropical wood, caviar, reptile skin and live reptiles. .

TRAFFIC '' awarded '' position of the world's leading importer of wildlife products for the EU in its report 'Opportunities or threats: The role of the European Union in the global wildlife trade bridge'. This is the first report of TRAFFIC to analyze the quantity and scope of products made from enumerated wildlife products imported into the EU.

Enviromental products imported into the EU include Caspian caviar, bags and snakeskin shoes, rare and precious reptiles for livestock, as well as billiard sticks made of hardwood trees in heat-prone areas. Southeast Asia zone.

According to TRAFFIC estimates, from 2000-2005 the EU imported 3.4 million lizards; 2.9 million crocodiles and 3.4 million snakes - all of these species are listed as protected by CITES (international agreements governing global wildlife trade), along with 300,000 snake as a pet.

At the same time, the EU imported 424 tons of caviar - more than half of the world's imports. In 2004, the EU imported more than 10 million cubic meters of tropical wood from Africa, South America and Asia, worth about 1.2 billion euros. EU legal trade in 2005 wildlife products also reached about 93 billion Euro.

Iguana - the favorite pet species in Europe (Photo: WWF)

Mr. Rob Parry-Jones, Director of TRAFFIC Europe said, because EU members are increasing, the size of the market and the demand for these products are also increasing.

But the Director of TRAFFIC Europe also stated that, while many activities of wildlife trade are legal, the increase in illegal trade forms derived from the demand for livestock, timber and other imported foreign products. This is a serious threat to the life of many species such as reptiles and sturgeon.

Between 2003 and 2004, EU legal practitioners seized more than 7,000 unlicensed shipments, obtaining more than 3.5 million samples on the CITES list.

Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF Global Species Program (World Nature Fund) said that the demand for products made from enviroment in the EU is having a great impact on the species of wildlife and the people above. everywhere in the world.

Accordingly, the EU plays an important role in ensuring that excessive demands do not lead to overexploitation of wildlife species outside the EU borders and the EU must also be responsible for helping countries manage resources. their origins.

In December 2006, the EU Minister of the Environment officially acknowledged that the EU should support developing countries in the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife and at the same time effectively implement CITES. It is known that more than 170 government officials will meet in the Netherlands (June 3-15) in the CITES Convention meeting held every 3 years - this is the first time held in the EU.

At this year's meeting, governments will discuss changes in the list of protected species under the convention, as well as issues of implementing agreements and powers in the trade of wildlife products.

Kieu Minh