Governments gathering for a meeting of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime have recognized environmental crime, such as illicit trafficking in wildlife, as a new form of transnational organized crime in need a greater response. The meeting passed by consensus a resolution encouraging governments to further strengthen their domestic laws to prevent and combat these crimes.

“The recognition that illicit wildlife trafficking is a new form of transnational organized crime should be a wake-up call to governments worldwide,” said Wendy Elliott, WWF Global Species Programme Manager. “All forms of transnational organized crime have major impacts on stability, security and development. Urgent action is now desperately needed to strengthen efforts to combat illicit wildlife trafficking at all levels of the trade chain.”

During the meeting, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted the sophisticated techniques used by wildlife traffickers, and the links between environmental crime and other crimes associated with high levels of violence and corruption.

UNODC encouraged countries to take action against trafficking in endangered species, and to consider making trafficking of endangered species a serious crime. Under the convention, serious crimes are defined as those that are assigned prison sentences of at least four years.

For the complete article, please see WWF.