GLOBALEAKS’ Post

The Potential Moderating Effect of the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 on Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation The Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 is a comprehensive legislation that protects Uganda's wildlife and natural resources. It provides a legal framework for managing human-wildlife conflicts and outlines the responsibilities of both government agencies and local communities. The law spells out Potential Moderating Effects such as Improved Conflict Mitigation Strategies: The Act can provide a legal basis for implementing effective conflict mitigation measures, such as Elephant deterrent electric fences: To prevent elephants from entering agricultural areas. Community-based conservation: Involving local communities in wildlife management and conservation efforts. Compensation schemes: To compensate communities for losses incurred due to human-elephant conflicts. Enhanced Enforcement of Wildlife Laws: The Act can strengthen the enforcement of wildlife laws, making it more difficult for individuals to engage in illegal activities such as poaching or habitat destruction. This can help to reduce the factors that contribute to human-elephant conflicts. Improved Public Awareness: The Act can promote public awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and the need to coexist peacefully with elephants. This can help to foster a more tolerant and understanding attitude towards wildlife. The Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 offers a valuable framework for managing human-elephant conflicts in Murchison Falls National Park, its effectiveness will depend on a combination of factors, including adequate funding, community engagement, and strong enforcement. The Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 promotes the coexistence of humans and elephants.

Within the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest lake in North Carolina. The lake covers 40,000 acres and is a bird sanctuary, offering a critical stopover for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds every year. It is also a proposed testing area for an algaecide treatment by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The proposed treatment is known to be toxic to birds and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is asking a federal court to block USFWS’ plan. SELC, the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife are challenging USFWS through a lawsuit citing violations of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. The groups are asking the court to intervene and stop the proposed plan until USFWS conducts a full analysis and considers available alternatives. SELC cites plans led by a local coalition that include a safer and more sustainable option to improve water quality and reduce algal blooms. The treatment USFWS is planning on using can kill birds and corrode their beaks. Additionally, the Florida legislature spent millions of dollars already to test the product in state waterways, and it has failed to provide a lasting solution for algal blooms. 🦆 To follow this story and find out more information, please visit the SELC website: https://lnkd.in/eMCDsQpf #migratorybirds #NEPA #wildliferefuge

A powerful next step for Nigeria’s wildlife conservation efforts 🌿 On October 24, 2024, at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria reached a milestone in the journey to protect its unique wildlife. The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024 advanced to a public hearing overseen by Hon. Rabiu Yusuf. This bill, spearheaded by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, targets wildlife trafficking, habitat destruction, and the illegal trade of endangered species. If passed, it will empower law enforcement with expanded investigative capabilities, expedite wildlife cases, and impose tougher penalties on poachers and traffickers. Importantly, it aligns with international efforts to combat biodiversity loss. What’s Next? After the public hearing, the bill will now proceed to its third reading in the House of Representatives. Join us in supporting this initiative: 🦁 Say NO to habitat destruction 🐘 Report wildlife crime 🌱 Support rewilding and restoration initiatives With support from partners like ANI_Foundation, Environmental Investigation Agency, and House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, we’re moving toward a brighter future for Nigeria’s wildlife and wild spaces. #WildlifeNews #WildlifeProtection #Conservation #NigeriaBill #WildAfrica #WildlifeNews #Nigeria #EndangeredSpeciesConservation

The illegal road through Wilpattu National Park will not be opened to the public. It was brought to our attention that an illegal motorcade is being conducted through Wilpattu National Park on July 7th, 2024, demanding that an illegal road through the Park be made public. In response, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has filed an action against the same in the Puttalam Magistrate Court seeking an enjoining Order.  Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL) and co-petitioners, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, Wilderness and Protected Areas Foundation, and Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam, made a submission to the Puttalam Magistrate Court and successfully averted what could have been a massive ecological disaster in our oldest and largest National Park.  An enjoining order has been granted to prevent entry to Wilpattu National Park without the approval of the Department of Wildlife Conservation until the next hearing. The Case will be heard next on July 19th, 2024. Previously, EFL and co-petitioners had filed a fundamental rights application bearing No. SC/FR/224/2010 on the 19th of March 2010 seeking a declaration that the fundamental rights of the Petitioners under Article 12(1) and/or 14(1) (g) have been or continue to be infringed and requesting an order to prohibit the Department of Wildlife Conservation from allowing the entry of any person to the Wilpattu National Park other than by following the due procedure for the entry of visitors. EFL and co-petitioners are resolute in taking action to safeguard our Protected Areas, which serve as havens for wildlife, flora, and our country's natural resources. Image courtesy Devaka Seneviratne #JusticeforNature #ProtectWilpattuNationalPark #SriLanka

A powerful next step for Nigeria’s wildlife conservation efforts 🌿 On October 24, 2024, at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria reached a milestone in the journey to protect its unique wildlife. The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024 advanced to a public hearing overseen by Hon. Rabiu Yusuf. This bill, spearheaded by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, targets wildlife trafficking, habitat destruction, and the illegal trade of endangered species. If passed, it will empower law enforcement with expanded investigative capabilities, expedite wildlife cases, and impose tougher penalties on poachers and traffickers. Importantly, it aligns with international efforts to combat biodiversity loss. What’s Next? After the public hearing, the bill will now proceed to its third reading in the House of Representatives. Join us in supporting this initiative: 🦁 Say NO to habitat destruction 🐘 Report wildlife crime 🌱 Support rewilding and restoration initiatives With support from partners like Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, Environmental Investigation Agency, and House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, we’re moving toward a brighter future for Nigeria’s wildlife and wild spaces. #WildlifeNews #WildlifeProtection #Conservation #NigeriaBill #WildAfrica #WildlifeNews #Nigeria #EndangeredSpeciesConservation

“The UN Office on Drugs and Crime” World Wildlife Crime Report Trafficking in Protected Species: 2024 “Despite two decades of concerted action, wildlife trafficking persists worldwide with more than 4,000 species affected, says new UNODC World Wildlife Crime Report. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) new World Wildlife Crime Report finds that – despite positive signs in reducing trafficking impacts for some iconic species like elephants and rhinoceros – wildlife trafficking overall has not been substantially reduced over two decades. More consistent enforcement to tackle both supply and demand, effective implementation of legislation, including anti-corruption laws, and stronger monitoring and research are needed. “Wildlife crime inflicts untold harm upon nature, and it also jeopardizes livelihoods, public health, good governance and our planet’s ability to fight climate change,” said Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director. “To address this crime, we must match the adaptability and agility of the illegal wildlife trade. This demands strong, targeted interventions at both the demand and the supply side of the trafficking chain, efforts to reduce criminal incentives and profits, and greater investment in data, analysis, and monitoring capacities." The third edition of the World Wildlife Crime Report examines trends, harms, impacts and drivers of the trafficking of protected wildlife species; evaluates the effectiveness of interventions to combat the trade; and provides policy recommendations.” Press Release : Vienna, 13 May 2024 https://lnkd.in/gSBEmsMu Complete Report: https://lnkd.in/g8DX4ik4 #captiveconservation #wildlifetrafficking #TheConservationGameMovie

The UNODC 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report examines recent trends in the illicit trafficking of protected species, and assesses the causes and impacts of this crime globally. Despite efforts over the past two decades, wildlife #trafficking remains widespread, with seizures from 2015-2021 indicating illegal trade in 162 countries affecting an astonishing 4,000 species. While there has been some progress in protecting certain iconic species such as #elephants and #rhinos, overall #wildlifetrafficking is not being significantly reduced. The report highlights the broad environmental, economic, and governance effects caused by illegal activities and trade, including environmental and socioeconomic chaos and destruction. Transnational #wildlifecrime is deeply interconnected with the activities of massively powerful #organisedcrime groups operating in some of the world’s most fragile and diverse ecosystems; from the Amazon to the Golden Triangle, and spanning African countries which together hold a devastating stake in this territory, channeling and fallout. There is always more to learn, particularly in a global landscape changing so fast – where some shifts are frighteningly visible, whilst other processes are prohibitively covert. Here you can learn more about harm – the impacts and drivers of wildlife crime patterns and trends, hope – what’s working, and history – case studies which illustrate the breadth and depth of the systems, and solutions. If you’re short on time or bandwidth, skip to Summaries, Conclusions and Policy Implications for a wrap of much of what there is to learn. It’s not light reading, but it is vital, clear and present information. https://lnkd.in/dHr8xxbY

The illegal trade of wildlife across our oceans is immense, overlooked, and often under-reported. Given its scale and vulnerability, it is critical that maritime traffic be central to our collective efforts to mitigate the illegal trade in wildlife. The creation of these guidelines is a fundamental first step in shining a spotlight on this part of the supply chain, giving us the building blocks for a solution that positively impacts animals across the globe. When we protect biodiversity, we protect ourselves, and today, we are one step closer to making this a reality. #NationalWildlifeWeek #WildlifeTrafficking #IFAW

“The full consequences and knock-on impacts of species loss are often never fully understood until it is too late.” In its newly released World Wildlife Crime Report 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights that the illegal #wildlifetrade threatens many lesser-known #species, such as #amphibians in #SoutheastAsia. Public and policy attention has mainly focused on iconic species like elephants and tigers, and the lack of regulatory controls on less charismatic species has led to unsustainably high #trade volumes and #population declines. The report further underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat #wildlife crime and meet global #conservation goals. To learn more about the report findings and recommendations, including the challenges in combating #wildlifecrime and Asia’s crucial role, click the link below. #Consumption #Biodiversity #Peace #BiodiversityDay #PartOfThePlan  #InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity #ForNature #NewsThatImpacts https://lnkd.in/gB_v5hsb 

Nigeria: Wildlife protection bill passes its first reading! The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill passed first reading at the house of representatives on Tuesday. The new bill ... would update and greatly improve current laws. It would further disrupt and deter illegal wildlife trade within the country by enhancing law enforcement capabilities, increasing investigative powers to include financial enquiries and intelligence-led operations, as well as expands courts’ ability to expedite wildlife cases and recover assets. It also creates corporate liability, supports international cooperation and imposes stringent penalties for traffickers and poachers ... Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Wild Africa Fund (WAF) have been actively supporting the Nigerian Government’s efforts to fight illegal wildlife trafficking, with support from the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Mary Rice, Executive Director of EIA UK, stated: “Criminal justice responses against wildlife trafficking can only succeed within the framework of robust legislation, enabling investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary to deliver justice. "EIA is proud to have supported the development of this bill so far, and urges Nigerian lawmakers to see through its enactment without delay.” Source: https://lnkd.in/dv9-gx9e #Nigeria #Africa #wildlife #illegalwildlifetrade #elephants #ivory #pangolins