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Non-compliance is a huge issue in CITES (the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species) because CITES has very weak enforcement capabilities, and because many of the member states do not themselves possess the capability to comply. Reservations (discussed in another post) are another source of legitimized non-compliance. One way to encourage better compliance without using sanctions better compliance without using sanctions or penalties would be to increase aid for the purpose of conservation. Often times, money (or capacity) is what these countries are lacking, not willpower. Given the resources to better protect the threatened species in question, they will usually do so. Another aspect of this is to use funds and programs to create industry and jobs in the areas where poaching is the best or only source of income. Give people a different and comparable source of income, and poaching levels as well as customs corruption (another major problem) will be drastically lowered.
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"Give people a different and comparable source of income, and poaching levels as well as customs corruption (another major problem) will be drastically lowered."
ReplyDeleteYes, poaching is often done because the people need a source of income, but customs corruption cannot be fought by giving the poachers a better source of income. Customs corruption is by someone with lots of money. Reducing poaching will lower customs corruption because there will be fewer people poaching and needing to corrupt customs officials, but the individual poachers rarely have the means or will to pay off customs. The people paying off customs are those who run the overall poaching. They are the ones with the pocketbook deep enough to pay off the necessary people. The best thing to do is to better educate customs officials and to keep and oversight group on them to help combat the corruption.
You raise a very good point. My thought was that if you eliminate the poachers, then customs corruption will decrease along with the decreasing trade in endangered species. The idea was that eliminate the source of the corruption, and the corruption will go away also.
ReplyDeleteBut your point that the funders of the corruption are outside the country, and possess deep pockets, is extremely relevant, and your solution very practical. Customs officials do need more oversight and, regulation, and education in many countries. Indeed, that is often one of the major targets of conservation groups when they enter a country: to improve customs so that the poached species at least cannot leave the country. If they can't get out, then the industry will eventually fail.
Unfortunately, the corruption of the customs process is not always motivated by bribes: there are often times where customs officers feel sorry for the poachers (who are worse off than them), and allow the trading of endangered species for the betterment of their countrymen. This is something that is much harder to fight, and in my opinion the only way to do this is to ensure that the would-be poachers have a better option, so that they do not turn to poaching and corruption.
Thank you for your thoughts! All these things MUST be discussed if any improvements are to be made.