A Peruvian delegation is attending a preparatory gathering where participants are expected to discuss issues to be addressed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’s (CITES) Standing Committee.
Peru is expected to take part of this forum as a member of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) through the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) of the country’s Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry (Minagri).
The 65th session of CITES’ Standing Committee is scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7th through July 11th.
In this regard, Antonio Matamoros, an official from ACTO Permanent Secretariat, stressed the ongoing meeting will allow Amazonian countries to reflect on the actions performed under this agreement and strengthen international cooperation.
For her part, Serfor’s Executive Director, Fabiola Muñoz, pointed out it is important to visualize the value of our forests and rich biodiversity shared with neighboring countries in the region.
Moreover, the government representative said that trade should be seen as an opportunity as it can generate benefits for indigenous communities.
Nonetheless, she warned illegal trade of wildlife has increased, poising a threat to the wildlife inhabiting the Peruvian rainforest; therefore, the Ollanta Humala administration is pledged to tackle this issue nationwide.
"In Peru, the government has launched a campaign against illegal trade last year,” said Muñoz. “Likewise, the state-run agency is undertaking new reforms to empower the wildlife preservation”.
In turn, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s representative, Lilian Ballon de Amezaga, noted the Andean nation is particularly interested in fighting this threat, as well as ensuring compliance with CITES convention.
“Peru is among a mega-biodiverse country with an ample area of tropical forest and have four Amazonian borders which area vulnerable to illegal wildlife trafficking,” she told Andina news agency.
(END) NDP/MAO/LOG
Published: 6/20/2014