Open consultation on banning UK sales of ivory. On 6th October 2017, the UK launched a
public consultation to seek opinions and information on banning UK sales of ivory and its potential impacts.
The consultation closed on 19th December 2017. WCS and other NGOs set up a
micro-website providing background information, views, facts and guidance for responding to the consultation. To access WCS’s official response to the UK consultation please click
here.
Public consultation on ivory trade in the EU. On 15th September 2017, the EU launched a
consultation aiming to compile information and views on the extent, structure and main features of the legal and illegal trade in ivory within and to/from the EU, as well as on the priorities that the EU should follow in its approach to combat ivory trafficking. The consultation closed on 8th December 2017. WCS and other NGOs prepared a
response template to encourage and guide citizens interested in responding to the EU consultation. O
n 8th December, a concerned group of 165 scientists in 33 countries worldwide, including from within 13 EU countries, sent a letter to EU Commissioner Vella, urging him to close down the EU’s domestic ivory market. Following the EU ivory stakeholder meeting held on 8th December, WCS and other NGOs published a press release. To access WCS’s official response to the EU consultation please click here.
WCS at the 2017 Our Ocean Conference. WCS participated in the Our Ocean Conference, which was hosted by the EU in Malta, on 5 and 6 October 2017. This document lays out WCS’s new commitments submitted to the conference related to delivering evidence-based solutions to global ocean challenges, raising awareness on the impacts of plastics in the ocean, and developing noise reduction targets. To access the document please click
here.
Sustainable Development in EU Free Trade Agreements (FTA). In September 2017, WCS submitted a response to a
DG Trade non-paper on ‘Sustainable Development in EU FTAs’, urging the EU to include commitments in every future EU FTA that will ensure the sustainability of trade in wildlife products and help combat the illegal wildlife trade. To access the full response please click
here.
CMS CoP12. In September 2017, WCS shared a position statement with all Parties in preparation for the 12th meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP12) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), in Manila, the Philippines, from 23-28 October 2017. This document reflects WCS’s perspective and expertise on some of the important issues to be considered by the Parties in documents, decisions and proposals during CoP12. To access the position statement please click here.
External Financing Instruments of the European Union. In May 2017, WCS submitted its response to the Public Consultation on the External Financing Instruments of the European Union, urging the EU to continue to increase spending on biodiversity in line with its commitment in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. WCS also highlighted the need to increase funding dedicated towards fighting wildlife trafficking as pledged in the 2016 EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. To access the full response please click
here.
Review of the EU Environmental Crime Directive. In March 2017, WCS and other NGOs sent a letter to the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, urging the EU to review the Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law (2008/99/EC) in order for the EU to retain its position as an effective global leader in combatting environmental crime. To access the full letter please click
here.
Ivory Trade Ban in the EU. In January 2017, an informal coalition of NGOs, including WCS, sent a letter to the European Commission urging the EU to introduce a mandatory, comprehensive, permanent ban on all external commercial trade in ivory (imports, exports and re-exports) and a prohibition on commercial intra-EU trade in ivory. To access the full letter please click here.