UN Environment, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Institute on Environment and Development (IIED), launched a report proposing more action and a stronger community voice on approaches to involve indigenous peoples and local communities in the fight against wildlife crime, including the illegal wildlife trade.
’Wildlife, Wild livelihoods’ outlines eight actions points to improve the community-based approach, ranging from better incentives and developing a better understanding of local customs and traditions, to involving local leaders in decision-making.
“Local communities are on the front line and have the most to lose from the illegal wildlife trade,” Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment said. “We have to engage local communities at every level to protect our most precious natural assets against people seeking to make a profit from wildlife crimes.”
It further outlines the opportunities and constraints for communities to participate in the various key international policy forums that influence wildlife management and takes a critical look at the increasingly militarized and top-down approach to combat illegal wildlife trade.
“Relying on top-down approaches to wildlife management is not working,” said Rosie Cooney, Chair of IUCN SSC Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group. “We must listen to the voices of local people and avoid marginalizing local communities to ensure our conservation work is effective and sustainable. It is local communities that personally bear the costs of human-wildlife conflict. Their engagement is key to protecting people and wildlife alike.”
Dilys Roe, Principal Researcher and Head of Biodiversity at IIED and joint author, said: “For too long, those in the best position to preserve wildlife ― local people ― have been left out of key decision-making and missed out on crucial benefits. It is vital policies that foster and recognise communities’ rights and needs are adopted in partnership and implemented. Africa’s wildlife will have a more hopeful future when governments start supporting local people and listening to them. Then they can help protect the wildlife we all treasure.”
The recommendations outlined in the report and hands-on ways of increasing opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities to participate in promoting more effective and equitable wildlife conservation strategies will also be at the centre of the first meeting of a Working Group of CITES on Rural Communities, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya last week.
Original source: UNEP
Published on 3 March 2018
