The Declaration and Commitments cover a raft of issues from information sharing and detection, practical measures to stop the transportation of illegal wildlife products and a common determination to tackle the illegal trade, wherever it may be.
The United for Wildlife Taskforce is a collaboration between key partners from the transport industry, international bodies and conservation organisations which was convened by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and is committed to focusing increased attention on efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade as one of the most pressing conservation issues of our time.
HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, said: “Ports are gateways to world trade and as pillars of economies they play a vital role in enabling commerce to thrive for the benefit of all. Yet traffickers in illegal wildlife products can also use transport connectivity to profit from their activity.
“That’s why we all need to work together to tackle the issue and only by partnership can we succeed for the long term. Promoting greater awareness and vigilance within the maritime sector, port operators, customs organisations, customers and suppliers, encouraging greater cooperation is key. We owe it to the world, our partners, our communities and to the magnificent wildlife that shares this planet with us.”
In October, DP World hosted a tour of Jebel Ali Port by the Taskforce members visiting Dubai to discuss issues around the illegal wildlife trade. The visit included a briefing by Dubai Customs and DP World management on how Dubai authorities work together at the 9th largest port in the world.
Since that time, further insights on the workings of Dubai Customs at Jebel Ali Port have been given providing a detailed insight into security measures and monitoring in a bid to share and implement best practice globally. The company is also writing to customers, global port operators, its 36,000 strong workforce around the world to highlight the agreement and to underline the need for co-operation in the transport and logistics sector.
Taskforce members led by the Rt Hon the Lord Hague of Richmond include DP World; World Customs Organisation (WCO); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES); International Air Transport Association (IATA); International Maritime Organisation (IMO); World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF); Wildlife Conservation Society; Wildlife Conservation Association; Emirates Airlines; DLA Piper; Kenya Airways; IATA; United Nations Development Programme; A.P. Moller Maersk; Maersk Line; COSCO Container Lines; Cruise Line International and DHL.