EIA Welcomes Administration’s Implementation Plan to Combat Wildlife Trafficking

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) applauds yesterday’s release of the Implementation Plan for the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking by the Departments of the Interior, Justice, and State. The Implementation Plan comes exactly one year after President Obama issued the National Strategy in response to the ongoing global wildlife trafficking crisis, and outlines the specific steps the United States will take to reverse the staggering decline of countless species caused by wildlife trafficking.

U.S. efforts include enacting a near-total ban on elephant ivory and rhino horn within the United States, implementing harsher penalties for convicted traffickers, and building enforcement capacity and partnerships both domestically and internationally. Allan Thornton, President of EIA, issued the following response:

“Amidst the slaughter of African elephants and rhinos organized by criminal syndicates and facilitated by corruption, the release of the Administration’s Implementation Plan detailing the next steps in the battle against wildlife trafficking is a welcome sign that the United States is continuing to show real leadership in this fight.

“EIA continues to support the decision to enact a U.S. ban on elephant ivory trade, making it as strong as possible, to address the trade in the United States and to send a powerful signal to urge other nations to close their own domestic markets.

“We stress the urgency of the poaching crisis at hand and encourage the use of the Pelly Amendment as a tool to prompt action to address wildlife trafficking in identified countries of concern.”

Contact:
Maggie Dewane, Press Officer, EIA, 202-483-6621, mdewane@eia-global.org