A new report published Tuesday by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) called for immediate measures to halt the worrying trend in illegal trafficking of CITES-listed species in the world's most ecologically important places, including World Heritage Sites.
The report found that illegal poaching, logging and fishing occur in nearly 30 percent of natural and mixed World Heritage sites, driving endangered species to the brink of extinction and putting the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities who depend on them at risk.
"Natural World Heritage sites are among the most recognized natural sites for their universal value. Yet many are threatened by destructive industrial activities and our new report shows that their often unique animals and plants are also affected by over exploitation and trafficking. Unless they are protected effectively, we will lose them forever. " said Marco Lambertini, Director General at WWF International.
The report stressed that enhanced protection and monitoring at the World Heritage site level must be accompanied by greater action to curb demand for illegal wildlife and wildlife products through education, enforcement and prosecution.
In order to halt illegal trafficking in World Heritage sites, all stakeholders must unite and take the immediate action required to prevent irreversible damage to the world's most iconic places and species, Lambertini said.
According to WWF, nearly half of all natural World Heritage sites were under threat from harmful industrial activities like mining, oil and gas drilling, and construction of large-scale infrastructure, with millions of people impacted.
