Airports step up lookout for illicit wildlife trade

Airports Council International, a trade association representing the world’s airports, has approved a resolution to support the United for Wildlife Transport Task Force campaign.    Airports Council International (ACI), a trade association representing the world’s airports, has approved Resolution 3, supporting the United for Wildlife Transport Task Force campaign.
   ACI noted that despite various international and national legal frameworks, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the illegal wildlife trade is considered the fourth largest global crime racket valued at up to $20 billion a year.
   “While the responsibility to apprehend and prosecute offenders rests with national enforcement authorities, airports and their staff can contribute to address the problem,” ACI said.
   ACI plans to develop programs that promote the adoption of a zero tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade by airports; enhance awareness of airport passenger, customer and staff regarding the nature, scale and consequences of illegal wildlife trade; improve data systems at airports worldwide, including due diligence and risk assessment; and promote staff training at airports to enable them to detect, identify and report suspected illegal wildlife traffic.
   Resolution 3 is part of the United for Wildlife Transport Task Force Buckingham Palace Declaration signed earlier this year.
   “We are also engaged with the aviation industry against the use of its global connectivity to support the much under reported crime of wildlife trafficking,” said Angela Gittens, director general of ACI, in a statement. “The ACI is dedicated to developing a practical framework towards this goal, including cooperation with international initiatives such as the Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) partnership.”