The threat of wildlife crime
In Cameroon, the well-being of communities is often deeply intertwined with the health of its environment. As the fourth most biodiverse country in Africa, Cameroon’s rich array of ecosystems and species undergird its economy, providing its people with food, income, protection against natural disasters, and more.
However, this abundance is in jeopardy, with declines in the extent of ecosystems and populations of species. Wildlife crime has contributed significantly to the problem.
“We have very lush, protected areas but very few rangers to protect them,” Johnsen said.
“So, most of the time, eco guards are in one part of the protected areas doing patrol, and in another part of the park, hunting is going on.”
Criminal networks have been quick to exploit these capacity issues, poaching some threatened and endangered species to the brink of local extinction.
Cameroon’s elephants, who are killed for their ivory, serve as a stark example. As the 2020 UNODC World Wildlife Report noted, 83.4 per cent of the elephants observed during aerial surveys in Cameroon were dead.
Such trafficking in wildlife can have severe implications for Cameroon’s human livelihoods, biodiversity, and governance.
“The life of the community is at stake, biodiversity is at stake, if actions are not taken,” Johnsen said.
Source link : https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2023/July/helping-those-on-the-frontlines-to-combat-wildlife-crime-in-cameroon.html
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Publish date : 2023-07-31 07:00:00
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