South Africa and United States partner to stem illegal wildlife trade

Conservationists have welcomed a new partnership between the United States and South Africa to urgently boost global efforts to stem wildlife crime.

Announcing the agreement, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, said the treasury departments of both countries have agreed to form a task force to combat illicit finance linked to illegal wildlife trade. Yellen has been visiting South Africa on the third leg of an Africa tour.

IFAW has long been a proponent of considering wildlife crime at the same level as other serious international organized crimes such as human trafficking and the drug trade and encouraging international collaborations between states as a critical part of any solution.

“South Africa’s rich wildlife biodiversity makes it a key source country for criminals involved in wildlife trafficking and its role as a transport and financial hub for the continent makes it even more important. If this collaboration leads to investigations and convictions, then it will be another useful tool in the global response to wildlife crime’ said Matthew Morley, Deputy Vice President of Conservation at IFAW. 

Morley said South Africa, a biodiversity hotspot with an abundance of wild animals, has long been a destination for wildlife criminals.

“This is a welcome move by the two Governments and another example of positive US leadership internationally. But in order to really get tough on wildlife crime, national and international policies must be strengthened, law enforcement needs more resources, and judicial systems need to hand down effective but appropriate sentences. This new effort, in tandem with other efforts such as targeted consumer awareness initiatives to reduce demand for wildlife products and effective community based in situ conservation can help keep wild animals where they belong—in the wild,” concluded Morley.