The UK and Vietnam to tackle the global illegal wildlife trade
Environment Minister Lord de Mauley will discuss Vietnam’s plans to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade and how the UK can support these efforts.
Lord de Mauley
The illegal trade in wildlife products is a global problem which countries around the world have committed to stamp out. At an international Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London in February, Vietnam joined more than 40 other counties in agreeing to committing them to eradicate the market for illegal wildlife products; ensuring that effective legal frameworks and deterrents are in place; strengthening law enforcement; and maintaining sustainable livelihoods and economic development.
The United Kingdom wants to work more closely with Vietnam on this important global agenda and warmly welcomed Prime Minister Dung’s recent Directive aimed at strengthening instructions and implementation of solutions to control and protect precious, rare and endangered wildlife species. Lord de Mauley, the UK Minister for Natural Environment and Science at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs arrives in Vietnam today (28 April 2014) to discuss Illegal Wildlife Trade issues with Vietnamese counterparts.
During his three day visit, Lord de Mauley will discuss Vietnam’s plans to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade and how the UK can support these efforts.
The British Ambassador to Vietnam Dr Antony Stokes highlighted the significance of the visit by Lord de Mauley, when he said:
Lord de Mauley will discuss what we can do together and how the UK can support Vietnam’s plans on this important agenda. Working together to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade is just one of the many areas where the UK and Vietnam are strengthening our cooperation. Our Strategic Partnership Agreement provides the basis for us to engage effectively on a broad range of issues, bilaterally and in international fora. The 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship in 2013 helped further elevate our constructive relationship.
Note to editor:
The London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade was held in London in February 2014. The conference successfully focused high level political attention on the issue of wildlife trafficking. Vietnam was among the 40 countries from across the world that attended the Conference, together with 10 international organisations.
The London Declaration is the outcome of the Conference. It contains commitments for practical steps to end the illegal trade in rhino horn, tiger parts and elephant tusks that fuels criminal activity worth over $19 billion each year. The trade also undermines economic opportunity and national security in developing countries, and threatens the survival of entire species.
Vietnam, along with other key states, including Botswana, Chad, China, Gabon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tanzania the United States and Russia, signed up to actions that will help eradicate the demand for wildlife products, strengthen law enforcement, and support the development of sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by wildlife crime.