Global Dialogue on Wildlife Trafficking on Mar.15 at Colombo University
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A Global Dialogue on Wildlife Trafficking was held on March 15, at VK Samaranayake Auditorium, University of Colombo School of Computing, jointly organised by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), University of Colombo (UoC), the CITES CoP18 Sri Lankan Secretariat and Environmental Foundation Ltd.
The symposium drew a very wide range of participants including policymakers, academics, university students following programmes in Environmental Law and Wildlife Conservation.
Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga was the Chief Guest and Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ravinatha Ariyasinghe, was the keynote speaker at the symposium.
The address, via Skype, by Head of Enforcement Support, CITES Secretariat, Geneva, Barend Janse van Rensburg, highlighted the importance of tackling Wildlife trafficking and why it should be considered as seriously as other types of major crimes being addressed by governments worldwide.
The technical sessions of the symposium addressed Species under Trade, Legislation, Regulations, Provisions and Mechanisms to combat Wildlife trafficking and People and Wildlife Trafficking.
Fifteen Research papers were presented on Transnational Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna such as Freshwater Fishes of Sri Lanka, Orchids, endemic Lizards and Star Tortoises, Agarwood and Sandalwood. Also the effectiveness of protection provided to endangered wild fauna under the Sri Lanka Law and the potential of this trade contributing to biopiracy and introduction of alien invasive species to Sri Lanka were discussed.
The authors included officers of Sri Lanka Customs, the DWC, the National Herbarium, Institute of Fundamental Studies, University based and independent Researchers and Environmental activists from non-governmental agencies.
“It was a significant landmark event as this was, to the best of our knowledge, the first time that Scientific papers that examined Wildlife trade of Sri Lanka were presented together. It was noteworthy that officers from Sri Lanka Customs presented five Research papers that highlighted the status and trends of trading in Wildlife related items in and out of the country,” said UoC’s Dr Nirmalie Pallewatta.
The dialogue came in the wake of Sri Lanka being set to host the 18th Conference of the Parties to CITES, the international convention with 183 parties, that operates globally to combat illegal Wildlife trade.
- Ramalka Kasige
Pix by Dilshan Chathuranga & Srinath Dissanayake