Main aim of the project is to limit illegal trading with endangered species of plantlife and wildlife in Poland through supporting the law enforcement and initiating positive changes in social engagement in rescuing endangered species, as well as creating social support for limitations in using nature’s resources.
Illegal trade with endangered species is a procedure including hundreds of millions of live and dead specimens around the world. In the experts’ opinion, apart from degradation of natural habitats it is the greatest danger to survival of 35000 species of animals and plants. The scale of this phenomenon is shown by the fact that it is the third in size illegal trade after drugs and weapons.
Because the problem is complex and it needs long-term engagement in order to reach its aims, the WWF runs its activities since 2003. Until recently it has organised regional trainings for the police nationwide, 5 workshops for CITES coordinators (CITES – a Washington Convention regulating international trade with endangered species) from the police and custom services, study visits for coordinators from Italy and Great Britain, and the first Polish report on current law for public prosecutors was prepared. Police statistics indicate that in this period the number of cases connected with crimes against CITES taken up has increased at least two times. It was mostly thanks to WWF that the first co-operation platform in the country was created – CITES Workgroup which includes representatives of all important institutions that implement CITES.
The WWF information campaign called „Don’t buy smuggled animals” was the first national campaign dealing with this issue. We have also organised an intensive educational action for students and teachers of secondary schools in four Polish cities. Together with Customs Chambers all around the country, information actions for travellers have been organised for 3 years. The WWF has initiated international cooperation between customs offices from Poland and neighbouring countries.
The Project is mostly directed at institutions responsible for implementation of current regulations of the Washington Convention and EU’s legislature in this area. Thanks to workshops, specialist trainings and market research these services will be much better prepared for ongoing control of trade on interior market and goods transported through the border. Apart from workshops and trainings we have also organised study visits to the UK during which experts from the UK Border Agency and Royal Kew Garden have presented the British system of implementing CITES. WWF Polska has conducted market monitoring by researching the characteristics of wild animals and plants trade in shops and zoological markets. Results of this research confirm the necessity for further activities both, educational as well as those aimed at increasing control over CITES species trade and changes in Polish legislature, thanks to which the system of documentation accompanying the specimens will be clear and sufficient for correct control.
The project also included a national campaign for information and education of potential buyers of memorabilia made from endangered species. Thousands of specimens illegally transported by tourists are one of the greatest problems in fighting against endangered species trade in Poland. For the purposes of the campaign we have prepared billboards, leaflets and a special edition of the WWF Polska magazine titled ‘Żyjąca Planeta – a living planet’. Educational activities of the project include education about caviar conduced under the patronage of the Minister of Environment Prof. Maciej Nowicki. In this activity we have published an informational brochure for the trade sector and leaflets for consumers, which will be distributed both in the press and directly in grocery shops nation-wide.
WWF Polska project is being continued in 2010 and is financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. New activities concern the problem of trade with Traditional Asian Medicine, reinforcement of co-operation with the public prosecutor’s office and continuation of the national educational activities.
Below is the project poster:
