Vienna, 3 March 2017 - The theme of this year's World Wildlife Day is "listen to the young voices"; it calls on all of us, from the very youngest to the oldest, to unite and to help prevent the wholesale elimination of our wildlife and forests.
UNODC's World Wildlife Crime Report, which came out last year, showed that wildlife and forest products are often hidden in plain sight. These products appear in fashion, furniture as well as in food. We all, therefore, bear a responsibility to act.
Through research, and working with ours partners across the UN and beyond, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is committed to playing a crucial role. But no organization, or single country has the resources to end these devastating crimes.
There is an urgent need to educate, to criminalize illegally sourced wildlife products and to make good use of the UN Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime and Corruption, against the criminals. Global demand must also be reduced by building sustainable livelihoods for those affected communities in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
World Wildlife Day has chosen as its theme the need to listen. We must show that we have heard by working together for the good of this amazing planet to end wildlife and forest crime.
For further information please contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
