UNWTO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and
African Tourism Ministers have committed to advancing the tourism
sector’s support in the global fight against the surge in poaching that
is threatening one of Africa’s main tourism resources - its unique
wildlife and biodiversity. (ITB Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2014).
In a response to the alarming growth in wildlife crime on the African
continent, UNWTO, the Ministers of Tourism of the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South
Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe gathered at ITB to review the
current situation in the individual countries, share experiences, and
discuss the tourism sector’s role the ongoing global efforts against
poaching. Joining the meeting were the Executive Director of UNODC, Yuri
Fedotov and the German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Jochen
Flasbarth.
“Tourism is a key vehicle for sustainable growth, job creation and
poverty alleviation across Africa, but without the draw of its
spectacular wildlife, future tourism development and millions of people
depending on it will suffer.” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
“We are here to work together in supporting the global efforts in
safeguarding Africa’s natural heritage and ensure the wellbeing of
wildlife and people alike.”
Yury Fedotov noted the devastating effects of wildlife crime: “The
killing and trafficking of wild animals not only destroys livelihoods
and ecosystems, and undermines development and stability, but is a crime
that steals revenues from legitimate economic activities, in particular
tourism. As this crime becomes ever more organized and ever more
destructive, it can only be stopped through comprehensive, coordinated
responses. Commitments, such as those made today, are central in helping
boost the necessary response to wildlife crime and as the guardian of
the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,
UNODC supports countries in tackling this critical issue.”
Jochen Flasbarth stressed the importance of approaching the critical
issue of poaching from a wider perspective and welcomed the commitment
of the tourism sector in engaging in this global fight. “It is very
encouraging to see tourism stepping up to engage in this global fight
and particularly to see the UN agencies UNWTO and UNODC joining efforts
to make this part of the tourism sector’s agenda”.
Wildlife in Africa is facing one of its greatest crises in decades.
Poaching and illegal wildlife trade in ivory, rhinoceros horn and other
biodiversity parts have reached unprecedented levels, affecting not only
wildlife but entire ecosystems and effectively depriving local
communities of their livelihood. Tourism, a principal export for many
African countries, is by no means unaffected by the ongoing poaching
crisis. Nature and wildlife watching tourism is one of Africa’s main
tourism products, and as such a key contributor to the region’s
socio-economic development.
"Wildlife has value far beyond its natural beauty and is worth much
more alive than dead. Wildlife watching generates billions of dollars
around the world each year and many migratory animals protected under
the Convention on Migratory Species, such as elephants, whales, gorillas
and flamingoes are some of the biggest tourist attractions in the
world. Losing them would be like losing the Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate
Bridge, the Pyramids or the Great Wall of China.” said Bradnee Chambers,
Executive Secretary of the UNEP Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) “It is encouraging to see that
the UNWTO and others are putting the fight against poaching and the
illegal wildlife trade so high on the agenda of the ITB in Berlin. It is
also encouraging to see that international wildlife protection is
increasingly a topic of concern for those responsible for tourism” said
Chambers.
UNWTO is currently conducting a study to assess the importance of
wildlife for the development of tourism in Africa, to be presented at
the upcoming UNWTO Regional Commission Meeting for Africa (Luanda,
Angola, 28-30 April 2014). The study will provide an overview of the
economic value of wildlife watching tourism in Africa, including data on
the dimension and characteristics of wildlife watching tourism in
Africa based on surveys with tourism stake holders, and will serve as
the basis for an upcoming UNWTO awareness campaign on the effects of
wildlife crime on tourism in Africa and the communities depending on it
for their survival.
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