Wild Animal Rescue

Wildlife Trade Seminar, June 2002

Eco-heavyweights Roll up Their Sleeves on Illegal Wildlife Trade
Kamol Suckhin - The Nation 17th June 2002-06-19

Every hour, one animal species and a football-sized forest disappear! Realizing that the degradation of biological resources and diversity has reached a critical stage in Thailand and around the world, the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources along with five international groups in Thailand will hold a special seminar to seek solutions on the issue.

Scheduled to take place in meeting rooms 213-216 at the Parliament building tomorrow (Tuesday), the seminar will provide an update on the illegal trade situation in the Kingdom and seek proper measures to deal with the problem, particularly the legal aspects.

About 500 government officials, activists, hotel operators, MP's, academics and press will participate in the seminar.

Among the speakers will be Robert Mather, a director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), whose speech is expected to be a highlight of the seminar with extensive information on the global movement to stop illegal trade in wildlife and plant species. Mather is a familiar name in wildlife protection circles in Thailand and the region due to his extensive work in this field.

Some readers who've flown to Europe recently might have noticed a "Stop illegal wildlife trade" advertisement on the plane. The message is part of a campaign funded by the Danish government aiming to stop illegal trade among Danish and Dutch tourists who visit Thailand chiefly to trade in wildlife parts or animals and plants.

WWF is joining local radio FM96 MHz, through community radio programme Ruamduay Chuaykan, for this campaign. During the seminar, there will be hourly reports on the event through FM96, providing highlights of the discussion for those interested who cannot attend.

Apart from the experience of Mather, the second session will include a discussion from the real experiences of Thai conservationists Phisit'na Phattalung, Suraphol Duangkhae, Rattaya Chanthian, Veterinarian Chitsanu Tiyacharoensri and Theeraphong Pangsriwong.

It is hoped that all the talks will lead to concrete and practical solutions, as a number of politicians - both inside and outside the house committee - are expected to show up. [return]

Loopholes Hamper Bid to Block Trade
Laws need updating to ensure effective ways of protection
Porpot Changyawa - Bangkok Post 19th June 2001

Lack of knowledge and appropriate laws on wildlife have hindered attempts to curb trade in endangered species, according to panellists at a seminar on wildlife trade yesterday.

Cooperation between government agencies to end wildlife trading has been insufficient because officials had limited knowledge of biological data and laws governing endangered species, said Manit Jaichagun, of the Department of Agriculture. "Immediate arrests are almost impossible as we have to explain to the authorities the concept of wildlife and the laws protecting them," he said.

Mr Manit was one of the panellists from government agencies and NGOs at the seminar, which was jointly organised by the House committee on natural resources and environment and five non-government organisations on wildlife protection. "It is hard to tell which animals or plants and the products made out of them belong on the list of endangered species,'' said Pachara Sinsawat, director of the Export Division of the Customs Office. Phisute Srikajon, chief judge of the Criminal Court, said that to ensure appropriate punishment for illegal traders, officials should inform the court of the country's state of environment and stress the importance of stolen endangered species to the eco-system.

Mr Phisut said that for a long-term solution, legal amendments were essential. "Some of the laws are so outdated it's useless to put them into effect." The NGO panellists agreed current laws governing endangered species need urgent change since they had many loopholes and focused too much on government authority. "The protected species act, for example, doesn't even recognise the NGOs, whose work could enhance that of the authorities," said Chisanu Tiyacharoensi of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation Thailand.

Wildlife trade was a dangerous threat to endangered species, second only to deforestation, said Robert Mather, director of the World Wildlife Fund Thailand (WWF). Trade in wildlife around the world totalled one trillion baht a year, according to WWF studies on wildlife. In Thailand, 80% of wildlife trade occurs in Bangkok. Shops in 23 out of 25 hotels in Bangkok under the study carried products made from wildlife. [return]
* WAR was represented at the Seminar by Secretary General Khun Pornpen, Dr Chisanu and Khun Supradit