Actions
Action 5.2
Action 5.4

5.3. Ensure that all use of species is legal.

Subactions

  • 5.3.1. Review national legislation in respect of species in use and trade and identify gaps.
  • 5.3.2. Include customary sustainable use (CSU) within legal use.
  • 5.3.3. Develop or revise legal frameworks and harvest levels as appropriate.
  • 5.3.4. Focus enforcement efforts on commercial levels of poaching and illegal trade.

Primary tools and resources

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Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA)

A coalition of conservation organisations supporting and promoting the International Ranger Federation to build a network of well-supported, professional, and capable rangers, who can act effectively as custodians of the natural world. It has produced numerous guidelines and standards of relevance to professionalizing the ranger work-force, including a Code of Conduct, ranger competences, and a document on how rangers support delivery of 30×30. There are 8 organizations URSA can be linked with (for filtering purposes).

FAO tools and resources on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems. IUU fishing takes advantage of corrupt administrations and exploits weak management regimes, in particular those of developing countries lacking the capacity and resources for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). The FAO has produced three volumes in the series Checklists and Technical Guidelines to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. Volume III is a Checklist of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems, operations, procedures and tools. It provides a list of minimum requirements to ensure that the national MCS systems, operations, procedures, and tools aimed at combating IUU fishing are of the desired standard. Additional information on methodologies and indicators is available on the FAO website.

How to use.

ECOLEX

ECOLEX is an information service on environmental law, operated jointly by FAO, IUCN, and UNEP. Its purpose is to build global capacity by providing the most comprehensive possible source of information on environmental law, in an easily accessible form. This is particularly helpful in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, where government officials, practitioners, environmental managers, non-profit institutions and academia may not have easy access to the information they need to develop the legal tools  needed to promote environmental management.

The ECOLEX database includes information on treaties, international soft-law and other non-binding policy and technical guidance documents, national legislation, judicial decisions, and law and policy literature. Users can access the abstracts and indexing information about each document, as well as to the full text of most of the information provided.

The Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable use of Biodiversity

The Addis Ababa principles were adopted by the CBD in 2004 and they provide an overall framework to assist Governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders ensure that the use of species and other elements of biodiversity is sustainable in the long-term. They contain 14 interdependent principles covering policies, laws, adaptive management, research, the needs of indigenous communities, participatory approaches, and education and awareness. The principles are each supported by a set of operational guidelines. The principles are all of general relevance, but each one may not apply equally in all situations and their application will vary according to the species, local conditions, and the institutional and cultural context.

Zero Poaching Toolkit

The Zero Poaching Toolkit helps national and state agencies, protected area managers, rangers, and other frontline protection staff in anti-poaching efforts. The toolkit contains resources on assessment, crime prevention strategies, community involvement, technology, capacity, and cooperation. The tools are freely available and well supported by a wide range of organizations including IUCN and many international NGOs. The tools provide the most practical ways to identify and close gaps in protection activities at the field level. The Training Guidelines for Field Rangers is the first of a series of guidelines to provide a standard for training field rangers.

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Other tools and resources

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Species use database

The Species Use Database (SpUD) has been created by the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi) to help address this problem by collecting and synthesising information on the utilization of wild species globally, and specifically on the sustainability of that use.

The database is intended to appeal to a broad spectrum of users, from those in policy and decision-making, to academia and educators, conservation practitioners, civil society and NGOs, as well as any individuals interested and keen to learn more about the use of wild species. The individual records – and the periodic syntheses of these – can be used to guide and feed into sound policies and decision-making, that enhance legal, sustainable, equitable wildlife management practices and draw attention to those that are illegal, unsustainable and inequitable.

WildLabs Conservation Technology Community

WILDLABS is home to the global conservation technology community of 8,600 people in 120 countries discussing 1,500 topics like biologging, camera traps, and machine learning. With engaging spaces to ask questions and collaborate together, share your own work, and discover new ideas and innovations, WILDLABS is your platform to connect with #Tech4Wildlife experts and projects from around the world.

Bern Convention Charters

The Council of Europe’s Bern Convention is an international legal instrument, binding for its Contracting Parties, in the field of nature conservation, which covers most of the natural heritage of the European continent.

The Convention places a particular importance on the need to protect endangered natural habitats and vulnerable species, including migratory species. Its Standing Committee (T-PVS) monitors the implementation of the Convention at each of its meetings by reviewing reports, processing case-files and adopting recommendations.
Hunters contribute to the fulfilment of the conservation aims of the Bern Convention through regulating game populations and caring for their habitats, assisting in monitoring and research, and raising public awareness for conservation issues. Thus, hunters and hunting play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity.
In November 2004, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation 1689 regarding Hunting and Europe’s environmental balance, recommending inter alia that the Council of Europe “draw up a European charter on hunting, as a guide setting out common principles and good practices for hunting, particularly for the organisation of hunting tourism on the continent”. Three years later, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention adopted such Charter, prepared by a Working Group of relevant experts and representatives from Contracting Parties and from NGOs – including FACE, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) and the World Conservation Union/Special Survival Commission – European Sustainable Use Specialist Group (IUCN/SSC-ESUSG).
The European Charter on Hunting and Biodiversity promotes principles and guidelines intended to ensure that hunting and hunting tourism in Europe are practiced in a sustainable manner, making a positive contribution to the conservation of species and habitats and the needs of society.

AEWA Guidance on Measures in National Legislation for Different Populations of the Same Species, Particularly with Respect to Hunting and Trade

Resolution 4.3 requested the Technical Committee, amongst other things, to advise on a more adequate implementation of the AEWA Action Plan’s population approach in the national legislation, particularly with regard to a ban on hunting and trade, and, if needed, provide guidance on its consequences for Parties. Such guidance may clarify the question how to deal with different populations of the same species in a country. This task was taken up by the Technical Committee in its Work Plan 2012-2015 under Working Group 1 (WG1). The Technical Committee examined and agreed on this guidance at its 12th meeting in March 2015.

CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT)

The Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) has been convened by the CMS Secretariat in conjunction with the Secretariat of AEWA, the Raptors MOU Coordinating Unit and the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) Working Group. It brings together governmental representatives of CMS Parties from the Mediterranean region, including European Union Member States, and other interested Parties. Representatives from non-CMS Parties as well as relevant international organizations and networks are also part of MIKT as observers.

AEWA Implementation Review Process (IRP)

The AEWA Implementation Review Process (IRP) was established by the Parties to the Agreement at their 4th Meeting (MOP4) in September 2008 through Resolution 4.6 in order to support the implementation of AEWA.
MOP4 also decided that the AEWA Standing Committee will undertake the IRP. The IRP will look at issues that have adverse effects or potential adverse effects on either migratory waterbirds or on their sites and habitats as a result of human activities.
The AEWA Technical Committee developed an information sheet on possible cases, which is meant to provide basic information for assessment by the Agreement’s governing bodies. All stakeholders can use this form to submit issues of concern with regard to sites important for migratory waterbirds, waterbird species/populations or any other issue, which in their opinion constitutes non-compliance with the provisions of AEWA, to the AEWA Secretariat.

AEWA Strategic Plan 2019-2027 Adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties

The first AEWA Strategic Plan was adopted at the 4th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) in 2008 through Resolution 4.7 and covered the period 2009-2017. Noting that MOP7 will not have taken place before 2018, in November 2015, MOP6 decided to extend the Strategic Plan until 2018 as per Resolution 6.14. Through the same Resolution, the MOP instructed the Standing Committee, working with the Technical Committee and supported by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat, to revise the AEWA Strategic Plan taking into account the CMS Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023, and to present a draft plan for the period 2019-2027 for consideration and adoption by MOP7. The current Strategic Plan for the period 2019-2027 was adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties on 4-8 December 2018 in Durban, South Africa.

CMS Review Mechanism and National Legislation Programme

Strengthening of compliance with specific obligations contained in the Convention has been identified as a critical issue for the effective conservation and management of migratory species. With the aim to facilitate the implementation of the Convention and promote its effectiveness, the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Manila, 2017) adopted Resolution 12.09 to establish a Review Mechanism and a National Legislation Programme.

The Review Mechanism and the National Legislation Programme are supportive, non-adversarial and facilitative processes focused on providing support to Parties that are experiencing difficulties with the implementation of the Convention. Pursuant to Article VII of the Convention, the two processes facilitate Parties’ attempts to identify gaps in their legislation and domestic matters that need to be addressed with corrective measures to ensuring both the long-term compliance with Articles of the Convention and the adequate protection of migratory species.

European Charter on Hunting and Biodiversity

• Provides a set of non-binding principles and guidelines for
sustainable hunting (with firearms, bows, traps, hounds or birds of
prey) to facilitate biodiversity conservation and rural development;
• Encourages hunter involvement in monitoring, management, and
research efforts directed towards stewardship and the conservation of
wildlife and their habitats;
• Promotes cooperation between hunters and other stakeholders in
the conservation and management of biodiversity.
• Seeks to ensure that hunting tourism is sustainable;
• Promotes forms of hunting tourism that provide local communities
with socio-economic incentives to conserve and manage wildlife and
their habitats, as well as general biodiversity;
• Makes recommendations for hunting tour operators and hunters
who engage their services.
• Promotes measures that increase hunter proficiency and safety
• Encourages hunter education, awareness and information
measures;
• Promotes best hunting practices.

Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance

SARCA is an industry-led initiative aimed at advancing responsible and transparent Southeast Asian reptile skin supply chains while driving improvements to the trade’s operating environment.

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Actors

Governments

UN/Inter-Governmental organisations and biodiversity-related conventions and agreements
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Secretariat
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
International Criminal Police Organization
Universal Ranger Support Alliance

Regional organisations
Regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks

Civil society organisations (including NGOs)
TRAFFIC
Universal Ranger Support Alliance