Species Identification Network
(This is an internal discussion document in early draft stage)
Contents |
1 Education
The use of species identification in education is the main topic of the Key to Nature project.
2 Wildlife trade
The European Union (EU) is one of the largest consumers of wild animals and plants, including fisheries and timber products. The international trade in many of these species is regulated and monitored by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). In terms of CITES species, the EU imported approximately six million live birds, 1.6 million live reptiles, around 10 million reptile skins, 21 million orchids and 579 tonnes of sturgeon caviar between 1996 and 2002. Most of this trade is legal, but a significant, though unknown portion of it is not. Illegal wildlife trade can seriously impact the conservation of species and can be ecologically and economically highly damaging. This is especially the case where there are links between illegal wildlife trade and organised crime, as is increasingly being recognised.
Since May 2004, ten countries joined the EU and more countries are likely to accede in the coming years. The expansion of the EU to 25 countries has undoubtedly increased the Union’s role as a major wildlife consumer. Moreover, EU enlargement has also shifted the Union’s external borders further east, placing the new Member States on the frontline for controlling imports of regulated wildlife to the EU. The EU’s eastern land border has increased in size by one-third (from 2400 km to 3300 km) and is now controlled by nine countries. Inside the EU, border controls operating between old and new EU Member States have disappeared and the movement of CITES-listed species and their products inside the EU has become easier.
(Parry-Jones et al., 2005)
3 Stake holders
Stake holders:
- CITES
- TRAFFIC
- WWF
- Encyclopedia of Life
- more to be added
4 Actions
5 Links
6 References
- Proceedings of the EU Wildlife Trade Enforcement Co-ordination Workshop Edited by: R. Parry-Jones J. Barnaby S. Theile. (October 2005). 84pp. Workshop 25-27 October 2005, Buckinghamshire, UK. Published by: Defra and TRAFFIC International. [1]
