10 June 2015, Kasane, Botswana. The Kasane Conference On The Illegal
Wildlife Trade held on 25 March 2015 in Botswana and were attended by
representatives of Governments and Regional Economic Integration
Organisations.
The dignitaries statement was as below:
(i) We, the representatives of Governments and Regional Economic Integration Organisations*, gathered in Kasane on 25 March 2015, recognising the detrimental economic, security, social, and environmental implications of the illegal trade in wildlife, make the following political commitment and call upon the international community to act together to bring this to an end.
(ii) In doing so the Governments and Regional Economic Integration Organisations which adopted the London Declaration on the Illegal Wildlife Trade reaffirm our determination to implement the commitments made in that Declaration. We welcome the important action already being taken by Governments and others in implementing the actions decided at the London Conference.
(iii) We welcome the action taken by Governments to implement their obligations and commitments under international agreements, including under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
(iv) We also welcome the convening of a number of other high-level events and the commitments to combat the illegal wildlife trade made at them. The London Conference and these events have generated significant momentum at international, regional and national level to enhance efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade more effectively, to raise the profile of illegal wildlife trade and to secure political support for these efforts.
(v) The need for decisive and urgent action to tackle the trafficking of endangered fauna and flora remains greater than ever. Despite efforts to date for many species, the illegal trade, and the poaching which fuels it, is an ongoing and growing problem. To this end we, the Governments and Regional Economic Integration Organisations which adopted the London Declaration and are represented in Kasane, recognise the progress made since the London Conference and welcome those Governments that are newly participating in the Kasane Conference. All participants commit to provide the political leadership and practical support needed to find a lasting solution to the illegal wildlife trade and decide to take the following actions.
ACTIONS
A. ERADICATING THE MARKET FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE PRODUCTS
In the In the London Conference Declaration, it was recognised that the illegal wildlife trade can only be effectively tackled if we eradicate both the demand for and supply of illegal wildlife products wherever in the world this occurs. To this end we, the representatives of Governments and Regional Economic Integration Organisations gathered in Kasane on 25 March 2015 commit ourselves, and call upon the international community, to take the following action, to:
Read the rest of the statement in the attached document.