Conserving Africa’s Wild Fauna and Flora

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE

2nd Wildlife Forum 21 November 2018

why

• Africa’s wild fauna and flora is for many countries, a source of livelihood and socio-economic development– the loss of African wildlife directly or indirectly affects the livelihoods of African people

• The illegal trade in Africa’s natural resources deprives African States of revenues, hindering economic growth

• Realities of species extinction

the Origin

• June 2014, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea: AU Decision EX.CL/ Dec.832 (XXV)

• International Conference on Illegal

Exploitation and Illegal Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

• Prepare an African Common

Strategy on Combatting Illegal Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna to be reported in the June 2015 Summit

the Brazzaville Conference

Highlighted: Economic, security, social, and environmental implications of illegal trade in wild flora and fauna

Called for: (1) AU and its Member States to act together to bring IWT to an end; (2) Coordinated efforts to safeguard Africa’s biodiversity for future generations ; (3) Practical homegrown solutions towards decisively eliminating poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

High level segment deliberated on: (1) Draft African Common Strategy of Combatting Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna; (2) Brazzaville Declaration

the Strategy • Formulated to guide a common, coordinated response by countries in Africa

to combat the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora

• Objective: to prevent, reduce and eventually eliminate the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora in Africa through the implementation of an Africa wide strategic framework, endorsed and acted upon by the African Union and its member states

• Builds upon and supports actions taken by AU Member States to implement their obligations and commitments under international agreements, including under CITES and International events done to raise the profile of illegal wildlife trade and to secure political support

• Monitoring and Reporting tool – validated in July 2018

Strategic Components

• Political Commitment

• Regional and International Cooperation

• Enforcement and Compliance

• Training and Capacity Development

• Awareness and Advocacy

• Knowledge, Information and Technology

• Governance

the Decisions/Declarations • The AU Summit adopted in June 2014 the EX.CL/Dec.832 (XXV) in Malabo,

Equatorial Guinea. The Decision, specifically targets the illicit exploitation and trade in African wild fauna and flora and calls upon the Commission in collaboration with the relevant partners to develop an African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna.

• In June 2015, the AU Summit through Decision EX.CL/Dec.879 (XXVII), endorsed the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa. The Decision calls upon Member States and the African Union partners to support the common strategy and facilitate implementation of the action plan.

• AMCEN Decision of June 2017 Ministerial report calls for the strengthening of institutions in Africa to effectively address the issues of wildlife poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and to implement the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.

• The STC on ARDWE supported the development of a Common African Position on Wildlife for the CITES negotiations

towards an African Common Position

• Stronger African voice at CITES to promote Africa’s interest and ensure that Africa’s priorities and concerns are taken into consideration.

• Africa’s common interests and agenda in wild fauna and flora are promoted.

• Strategic engagement

Mandate • In the Constitutive Act of the African Union under Article three, the forth Objective is to “Promote and

defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples.” Africa’s engagement in global issues has grown from strength to strength over the years.

• Africa continues to speak in one voice in the global negotiations on climate change through the AGN on Climate Change under the guidance of AMCEN and political leadership CAHOSCC.

• Sustainable Development Goals, through the “Common African Position (CAP) on the Post 2015 Development Agenda”; at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction that adopted the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.

• The 2nd meeting of the STC on ARDWE held in October 2017:

• Countries called for an integrated approach in dealing with issues of illicit trade of wild fauna and flora, and called for a more deliberate coordinated effort.

• Urged Member States to enhance cooperation on combatting illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products and further supported the development of a Common African Position on Wildlife.

the Coordination Structure/Mechanism

• High level political leadership from the African Union to highlight the importance that the AU places on Conserving Africa’s Wild Fauna and Flora.

• The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) will be informed of key actions and developments through the Bureau of the newly formed Sub-committee on Environment.

• Fauna and Flora Sub-Committee of the STC on Agriculture Rural Development Water and Environment will provide the necessary updates and reports to the STC.

• The Experts Group, Regional Economic Communities and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be responsible for technical and strategic policy guidance and advice.

the Coordination Structure/Mechanism

Thank you

Leah Wanambwa Senior Policy Officer Division of Environment, Climate Change, Water and Land Management WanambwaL@africa-union.org