Gabon hosts summit on illegal wildlife trade

 Libreville – Libreville city (Gabon) hosts from 2 to 4 September, the 19th and 15th sessions of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Experts in biodiversity will analyse  issues such as the illegal exploitation and trade of wild fauna and flora, consequences, strategy to contain such acts and investments.

The African Commissioner, Josefa Sacko, who was speaking at the second meeting of African negotiators, said that Africa is the continent of the future for harboring exceptional biological diversity, although it is the second lung of the planet in terms of carbon absorption.

Josefa Sacko said that, although, with environmental assets, namely the Congo Basin forestry block, and with a younger world population on the planet, Africa has the obligation to better manage natural resources with a view to sustainable development, in order to bequeath to future generations a rich heritage.

She explained that many African countries live on this dividend and that the socio-economic development of communities in rural and urban areas are highly dependent on the use of wild fauna and flora.

According to diplomat, the loss of African fauna and flora directly and indirectly affects people's livelihoods, in addition, the illicit trade in Africa's natural resources deprives its states of revenue, hampering economic growth.

“The African Union remains aware of the unsustainable use of wild fauna and flora and the strong growth of illegal trade in recent years, holding back sustainable development, peace, security, rule of law and good governance,” she stressed.

The Commissioner stressed that in order to contain this evil, the AU adopted, at the twenty-fifth and twenty-seventh ordinary sessions of the Executive Council of the African Union, respectively, the development of an African strategy on the fight against illegal exploitation and illegal trade in wild fauna and flora, as well as endorsing the Brazzaville Declaration of the International Conference on this phenomenon.

“To achieve the essential goals of Agenda 2063 and the sustainability of our continent, we need to be united and speak with one voice to the world. We must, therefore, encourage the spirit of consensus to reach a common position”, defended the head of agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, who is fulfilling her second term in the African organisation.

The diplomat recalled that international agreements are closely intertwined and have an impact on the well-being of indigenous peoples and communities on the continent, because “these peoples are witnesses to the preservation of our environment”.