A never ending stream of bad news, about poaching,
wildlife and environmental crimes …

in the spotlight today ……………

‘The Role of Corruption in Wildlife and Forest Crime’, which you can read & download at https://eia-international.org/report/the-role-of-corruption-in-wildlife-and-forest-crime AND VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/environmentalinvestigationagency/videos/vb.21019330647/10156119571140648/?type=2&theater

The law without enforcement
is only good advice.
– Abraham Lincoln

No 554 Wildlife Trade News: 3rd November 2015

IVORY TRADE: THE VIOLENCE. EXTRACT:

These criminals also became increasingly empowered by the wealth dead elephants provided them, gaining influence within the very international convention set up to protect wildlife from over exploitation – CITES.

Thirty years and millions of dollars later, careers have been built on trying to restart the legal ivory trade, publishing reports and analyses on how to prevent “illegal” ivory being laundered into “legal” ivory markets through enforcement and registration of ivory. All this prompted the release of some “legal” ivory into the markets of China and Japan in 2008 with the idiotic mantra that prices would plummet.

We must hold all those people involved in the decision to allow the 2008 sale of ivory to China and Japan responsible for this violence: The countries supporting the CITES decision, the failed "experts" that recommended the sale and WWF and TRAFFIC for endorsing this crazy decision undermining the rest of the wildlife NGO community.

So who could possibly want the ivory trade to continue? Look out for Ivory Trade: Part 2 in a few days.

http://www.davecurrey.com/#!IVORY-TRADE-THE-VIOLENCE/c1x7q/56323e100cf2ce5bf432e335

Global Anti-Poaching Act Expected to Pass House Today. extract: And, finally, it will help address corruption by holding countries accountable for failure to observe international anti-trafficking laws. The Secretary of State will be responsible for identifying and reporting on governments that have not fulfilled their legal obligations to protect threatened and endangered species and will be authorized to withhold certain assistance from them. Additionally, the bill will include the Secretary of State in Pelly Amendment certification procedures and require the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on any Pelly Amendment certification. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/epepper/global_anti-poaching_act_expec.html

International Wildlife Crime: Rubbing Out the Dots. by John Sellar. Former CITES Enforcement Officer. http://annamiticus.com/2015/11/02/part-3-international-wildlife-crime-rubbing-out-the-dots/

INTERPOL

INDONESIA: Kalla: No need to Name Corporations Responsible for Haze. (NA comment: The start of the government cover up?) The Vice President says the firms will have to pay large fines but not face public wrath. http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/multimedia/kalla-no-need-name-corporations-responsible-haze/

Animals, humans in violent conflict in North Sumatra, Aceh – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/02/animals-humans-violent-conflict-north-sumatra-aceh.html#sthash.c8GJURck.dpuf

CHINA: Yunnan 09/15: 210 snapping turtles seized from truck en route to Guangzhou

http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2015/09-08/7512270.shtml

Chinese Airports Take Steps to Combat Wildlife Traffickinghttp://freeland.org/press-releases/chinese-airports-take-steps-to-combat-wildlife-trafficking/

Vietnamese transport companies build a reputation for social and environmental responsibility http://www.traffic.org/home/2015/11/2/vietnamese-transport-companies-build-a-reputation-for-social.html

ZIMBABWE: Sunday Mail editor, reporters arrested over ‘false’ article. EXTRACT: They were arrested Monday over an article claiming the involvement of senior police officers and Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers in elephant poaching. http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-25827-Sunday+Mail+editor,+reporters+arrested/news.aspx

Emirates airline supports wildlife. Super jumbo message against illegal wildlife trade

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/emirates-airline-supports-wildlife-1.1611916

Al-Qaeda linked Islamists hack a GIRAFFE to pieces in bizarre ‘Jihad tourism’ video as desperate group tries to recruit more numbers in Kenya http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3300437/Al-Qaeda-linked-Islamists-hack-GIRAFFE-pieces-bizarre-Jihad-tourism-video-desperate-group-tries-recruit-numbers-Kenya.html

USA: Why States Need to Battle the Ivory Wars http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-flocken/why-states-need-to-battle-the-ivory-wars_b_8453914.html

Eco-Tourism Worth More to African Economies Than Trophy Hunting http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-markarian/eco-tourism-worth-more-to_b_8455186.html

Microsoft Co-Founder Backs Anti-Ivory Measure in Washington State .Paul Allen spent nearly $2 million on initiative to ban sales of threatened animals http://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-co-founder-backs-anti-ivory-measure-in-washington-state-1446490967

China’s great railway dream: Traversing South America http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/latin-america/article42273081.html

Illegal Deforestation of Peru’s Amazon, 5000 Hectares for Palm Oil: Peruvian Indigenous Leader http://www.globalresearch.ca/illegal-deforestation-of-5000-hectares-of-perus-amazon-for-palm-oil-peruvian-indigenous-leader/5486126

THAILAND: General Illegally cut phayung logs worth B1m seized.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/752944/illegally-cut-phayung-logs-worth-b1m-seized

Pakistan: Elephants in chains http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-11-349096-Elephants-in-chains

INDIA: Hyena, battered with iron rods by poachers, rescued in Mathura http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/Hyena-battered-with-iron-rods-by-poachers-rescued-in-Mathura/articleshow/49634966.cms

INDIA: Leopard found dead in Pench buffer zone in MP http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/leopard-found-dead-in-pench-buffer-zone-in-mp-115110201428_1.html

INDIA: Elephant poaching: Kerala HC declines bail to 10 accused http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Elephant-poaching-Kerala-HC-declines-bail-to-10-accused/articleshow/49633469.cms

INDIA: Poaching Accused Told to Surrender Before Probe Official http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Poaching-Accused-Told-to-Surrender-Before-Probe-Official/2015/11/03/article3110707.ece

PAKISTAN: Wildlife Exploitation http://nation.com.pk/editorials/03-Nov-2015/wildlife-exploitation

Australian Border Force saves 15 native lizards from smuggling. EXTRACT: Officials said that the native lizards were bound for Slovakia for the blackmarket. http://www.ibtimes.com.au/australian-border-force-saves-15-native-lizards-smuggling-1480055

Matusadona Anti Poaching Project – MAPP

We have been very busy and as usual continue to achieve results, after the apprehension of four poachers from a notorious syndicate caught in possession with a large quantity of ivory and two weapons further results were achieved with the recovery of six illegal weapons in the surrounding areas of the Matusadona National Park, Three accused were also arrested for possession of fresh serval skins, duiker skins and bush meat.

https://www.facebook.com/Matusadona-Anti-Poaching-Project-MAPP-199482320230811/

Gold mining explodes in Suriname, puts forests and people at risk http://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/gold-mining-explodes-in-suriname-puts-forests-and-people-at-risk/

Oil roads to ecological ruin: Ecuador’s bushmeat and wildlife trade http://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/oil-roads-to-ecological-ruin-ecuadors-bushmeat-and-wildlife-trade/

Private conservation lands under threat in Peruvian Amazon http://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/private-conservation-lands-under-threat-in-peruvian-amazon/

PRESS RELEASE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015 – FOR IMMEDIATE USE

RELAXATION OF LEGAL TIMBER SCHEME WEAKENS FOREST GOVERNANCE REFORM

LONDON/JAKARTA:The last-minute exemption of 15 product groups from Indonesia’s timber legality verification system threatens to block EU market access for these products, to delay or sabotage a long-negotiated EU-Indonesia timber trade agreement and undermine Indonesia’s forest industry reputation, NGOs have warned.

The alert from Indonesia’s Independent Forest Monitoring Network (JPIK) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) followings the October 19 passage of Trade Minister Regulation No 89/M-DAG/PER/10/2015, which substantially weakens the SVLK.

Under Indonesia’s Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK), all wood products exporters’ operations must be audited for compliance against a legality standard covering raw material inputs and factory or trade practices. Positive audit results are rewarded with so-called VLK certificates enabling them to acquire a “V-Legal document”, an export license legally required to export wood products.

While this system applies to exports to all markets, it is also the foundation of a long-negotiated Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Indonesia and the EU. Once the VPA is activated, timber products without associated V-Legal documents will be rejected at EU ports, and cannot be sold on the EU market. Similarly, products accompanies by V-Legal documents will also be exempted from the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which prohibits illegal wood in the EU and requires EU companies to conduct due diligence on wood products purchases. As such, V-Legal documents are the crucial key for Indonesian exporters seeking to unlock EU market access.

The new regulation permanently exempts all exporters of 15 wood product customs codes (HS Codes) from the requirement to undergo SVLK audits, while maintaining their ability to export. Exempted companies – many of which have multi-million dollar exports – must still use SVLK certified wood but no checks that they do so will be required, providing significant opportunities for laundering uncertified or illegal wood into supply chains.

The Ministry of Trade exemptions have been vociferously opposed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry and have similarly prompted the EU’s Ambassador to Indonesia to raised concerns in an October 23 letter to the Trade Minister.

“The Trade Minister Regulation introduces structural inconsistencies in Indonesia’s long-term efforts to improve forest governance through implementation of the SVLK and threatens the proposed scope and timeframe for the implementation of the Indonesia-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA),” stated Zainuri Hasyim, JPIK National Coordinator.

Faith Doherty, EIA Forest Campaign Team Leader agreed, saying: “The Trade Ministry Regulation introduces an eleventh-hour back door exemption for an elite group of companies with friends in high places. It violates the aims and mechanisms underpinning both the SVLK and the VPA. The consequence is that either the VPA must be re-negotiated, the SVLK licensing system must be re-designed or the exempted companies are structurally blocked from accessing the EU market. This bad regulation – ironically produced to hasten de-regulation – needs to be ammended immediately.”

The Indonesian Government is planning to announce VPA implementation as a headline offering at the UN climate change talks in Paris in December at a time when major forest fires in Indonesia have produced more carbon emissions than Japan does in a year and which have on occasion surpassed the daily emissions output of the entire US.

For further information:

Zainuri Hasyim ­– zhasyim or +62 0811 754409

Mardi Minangsari – minangsari or +62 0811 111918

Faith Doherty – FaithDoherty or +44 (0) 207 3547960)

EDITOR’S NOTE:

1. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a UK- and Washington DC-based Non-Governmental Organisation that investigates and campaigns against a wide range of environmental crimes, including illegal wildlife trade, illegal logging, hazardous waste, and trade in climate and ozone-altering chemicals.

2. JPIK (Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan) is an independent Forest Monitoring Network established on September 23, 2010 by a network of 29 NGOs stretching from Aceh to Papua. JPIK’s core mandate is to monitor and strengthen the SVLK and its implementation as a key tool in bringing about better forestry and trade governance.

3. The Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK), or timber legality verification system, is a mandatory requirement for all timber producers, processors and exporters to be independently audited for compliance with a Legality Verification standard that includes criteria, indicators, verifiers, verification methods and assessment norms developed through a multi-stakeholder negotiation process.

4. V-Legal documents certify that timber products for export fulfill the timber legality verification standard embodied in the SVLK.

5. A Timber Legality Verification Agencies (LVLKs) are independent legal entities that verify timber legality against the SVLK and issue V-Legal Documents under license from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

6. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a major component of the 2003 EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. The Indonesia-EU VPA and has been negotiated by the Government of Indonesia and the European Union since 2007, was signed on September 30, 2013 and ratified by both parties in 2014.

7. Read release in Indonesian here.

Environmental Investigation Agency
62-63 Upper Street
London N1 0NY
UK
www.eia-international.org
Tel: +44 207 354 7960