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Poaching and Illicit Wildlife Trafficking – a multidimensional crime and growing challenge to the international community

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Media Invite

The event: High Level Panel Discussion, "Poaching and Illicit Wildlife Trafficking", co-hosted by the governments of Germany and Gabon.

When Sept 26th, 1.15 - 2.30pm

Where: Conference Room 1, UN Conference Building, New York 

  • The event will be co-hosted by H.E. Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic, and H.E. Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany.

  • Opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson

  • Mr. Jim Leape, Director General of the WWF, will give the thematic introduction.

  • The discussion will be moderated by Mr. John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

  • Several Heads of State and Government, as well as Ministers of Foreign affairs have already confirmed their participation. 

Press arrangements: The event is open to the press. For security reasons, non-UN journalists have to be escorted to the conference room by MALU from the registration desks or the MALU office (S-250).

UN resident journalists have access without escort.

Background Information

A High Level Discussion on concrete measures the international community can take in order to tackle root causes and consequences on peace and security, the rule of law and economic development of poaching and illicit wildlife trafficking will take place during the 68th General Assembly. Illicit wildlife trafficking is estimated to be worth $19 billion annually, making it the fourth largest illegal trade in the world. International criminal syndicates, drug traffickers, armed militant groups and even terror organisations are known to profit from illicit wildlife trafficking.

This multidimensional crime represents a growing challenge to the international community: the UN Crime Commission has recently passed a resolution making this illicit trade a serious crime. The discussion is already attracting the attention of Heads of States/Governments and Ministers, who will explore, among others, the possibility for a future General Assembly resolution on illicit wildlife trafficking.

Director General of WWF, Jim Leape will be available for media interviews.

To schedule an interview or for more information please contact:

Michael Storey mstorey@wwfint.org / +49 79 330 7162 @mickstorey82

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

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