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SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy
| Author: | SADC |
| Language: | English |
| Topic: | Legal and law enforcement |
| Type: | Strategy and guides |
| Last updated: | 8 November 2024 |
The SADC Region is facing the challenge of increased poaching of elephants, rhinos and other wildlife for illegal financial gain. In recent years, the trend for poaching has accelerated due to the high value of ivory and Rhino horn on the international black market, especially in south East Asia where markets provide a significant incentive for poaching. For example, a total 3,668 rhinos have been poached in South Africa since 2009. Worldwide, large-scale seizures of ivory, mostly originating in Africa had exceeded sustainable limits by 2013. Nevertheless, southern Africa still supports the largest remaining populations of elephants and rhinos in the world, challenging SADC Member States to collectively engage with both the region and the Asian consumer states to combat this unsustainable and illegal harvesting of wildlife.
Numerous international initiatives are being undertaken to combat the illegal killing and trade of wildlife as it has become a global issue beyond just a country or regional problem. These initiatives include international and inter-governmental meetings highlighting the crisis and garnering bi- and multi-lateral aid support, specific actions of UN bodies such CITES, ODC-ICCWC, INTERPOL and IUCN as well as international NGOs such as TRAFFIC and WWF.
Against this background, a meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Environment and Natural Resources held on 3 October 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique resolved to:
(i) develop and adopt a comprehensive anti-poaching strategy;
(ii) establish a co-ordination Unit, within the Secretariat, whose primary role will be to coordinate natural resources related law enforcement and monitoring illegal harvesting of the resources;
(iii) invest in a robust education and communication program with a view to engage communities effectively to participate in national and cross- border efforts to fight poaching;
(iv) strengthen the institutional capacity at national levels for efficient and effective enforcement; and
(v) take advantage of existing opportunities through Transfrontier Conservation Areas, national action plans and relevant agreements to eliminate Illegal harvesting and unregulated exploitation of wildlife in SADC Member States.
Numerous international initiatives are being undertaken to combat the illegal killing and trade of wildlife as it has become a global issue beyond just a country or regional problem. These initiatives include international and inter-governmental meetings highlighting the crisis and garnering bi- and multi-lateral aid support, specific actions of UN bodies such CITES, ODC-ICCWC, INTERPOL and IUCN as well as international NGOs such as TRAFFIC and WWF.
Against this background, a meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Environment and Natural Resources held on 3 October 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique resolved to:
(i) develop and adopt a comprehensive anti-poaching strategy;
(ii) establish a co-ordination Unit, within the Secretariat, whose primary role will be to coordinate natural resources related law enforcement and monitoring illegal harvesting of the resources;
(iii) invest in a robust education and communication program with a view to engage communities effectively to participate in national and cross- border efforts to fight poaching;
(iv) strengthen the institutional capacity at national levels for efficient and effective enforcement; and
(v) take advantage of existing opportunities through Transfrontier Conservation Areas, national action plans and relevant agreements to eliminate Illegal harvesting and unregulated exploitation of wildlife in SADC Member States.
