SEMINAR TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Demonstrating its commitment to eradicate the illegal global trade in wildlife, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) early last month helped organise the first seminar to explain the importance of the issue to Thai tourism-related businesses.

About 100 senior executives attended the seminar, which was funded by the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development (DANCED) and jointly organised with the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Thailand and the co- operation of the Departments of Forestry and Fisheries.

The participants heard the results of surveys and research showing how tourists’ illegal purchases of wildlife products was contributing to the extinction of various endangered species of animals and plants. They also heard appeals to help stop this practise, and how they could help the cause.

Entitled “Tourism Companies and Conservation of Endangered Animals and Plants”, the one-day seminar was directed at tour company managers and tour guides. It was presided over by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Pongpol Adireksarn who gave a talk on “Policies and Plans to Conserve Endangered Species for Tourism- related Businesses”.

Other keynote presentations included “Tourism Management in the Next Millennium and Conservation of Biological Resources” by TAT Governor Mr. Pradech Phayakvichien and “Situations, Problems and Impacts from Illegal Wildlife Trade” by Director of the WWF-Thailand Dr. Robert Mather.

TAT Governor Pradech commented, “The seminar is very much in line with our policy to ensure the sustainable development of Thai tourism. Our private sector has to play a stronger role in helping prevent the illegal trade in wildlife and discouraging their international customers from buying such products.”

At the seminar, representatives of tourism companies and related government agencies were given clear information on wildlife in danger of extinction as well as related international agreements and Thai laws. They shared ideas on the possibility of creating a network to help eradicate the illegal trade of endangered wildlife.

According to research conducted by the WWF-Thailand between December 2000 and February 2001, many visitors to Thailand routinely purchased products procured through the illegal wildlife trade, mostly without knowing that it was illegal.

Many buy goods made from animal skins while others believe that traditional medicine made from herbs and animal organs possess healing power. Many hotels and popular visitor destinations have shops selling illegal products made from wildlife body parts. The survey also showed that ivory was the most sought-after illegal wildlife product, being sold at 80% of border trading points (Laos, Burma and Cambodia), at 189 hotels in Bangkok and numerous souvenir shops and tourist destinations. Crocodile skin products are another item.

Thailand has enacted the “Conservation and Protection of Wild Animals Act B.E. 2535 (1992)”. It is also a signatory of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), signed by 154 countries (as of July 2001), which discourages the trade and import/export of endangered wildlife species, dead or alive.

Visitors to Thailand can report instances of illegal wildlife trade by contacting the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) -- Thailand at Tel: (66-2) 524-6128-9, Fax: (66-2) 524- 6134, E-mail: wwfthai@wwfthai.org or Forest Protection Office, Royal Forestry Department at Tel: (66-2) 579-3004, 579- 5266, E-mail: wildlifept@hotmail.com