William warns that conservationists cannot fight poaching alone
The Duke of Cambridge has warned the fight against the illegal wildlife trade cannot be left to conservationists alone on the eve of a major anti-poaching summit.
William described the problem as the “fourth largest criminal trafficking enterprise in the world” worth billions, as leading financial institutions pledged to help.
Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland were among those who signed up to a declaration agreeing to “not knowingly facilitate or tolerate” the flow of money from trade in poached animal products like elephant tusks or rhino horn.
Today global financial organisations have signed the 'Mansion House Declaration' as part of @United4Wildlife's Financial Taskforce, joining together in the fight to #EndWildlifeCrime. pic.twitter.com/rh7GCYDIeq
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2018
The “Mansion House Declaration” was unveiled ahead of an international two-day conference on the illegal wildlife trade hosted by the UK Government which begins on Thursday when William will give the keynote speech.
Speaking at Mansion House, in the City of London, the Duke told the signatories, who included the International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, he had seen a huge stockpile of elephant tusks during a recent visit to Tanzania.
On a recent visit to Tanzania, The Duke was given a rare opportunity to view a ivory stockpile, including thousands of seized tusks, and see first-hand the scale of the global criminal trade that leads to the killing of thousands of elephants every year #EndWildlifeCrimepic.twitter.com/KjO0eAGoM3
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2018
He added: “We cannot afford for this fight to be a priority solely for conservationists any more. It is an issue for all of us.
“We need to take these criminals on from every direction. One particularly vital way is to follow the money.
“Much of this criminal activity takes advantage of everyday banking facilities. And that is why we are all here today.
“You are all on the front line.”
"When you visualise how many elephants were attacked for these tusks, it's scary. We must make ivory undesirable, and leave it in an elephant and not in a warehouse." – The Duke of Cambridge #EndWildlifeCrimepic.twitter.com/hM9OfV0spn
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2018
The declaration signing was the centrepiece of the first meeting of the financial taskforce of the duke’s conservation umbrella organisation United For Wildlife.
The signatories – representatives from 30 global banks, financial institutions and other organisations – also committed to sharing resources and intelligence to disrupt income generated by the illegal wildlife trade.
"By disrupting the income of the illegal wildlife trade we can disrupt a global criminal enterprise that brings great harm to communities around the world. And we will be part of something that protects wildlife for future generations too"– The Duke of Cambridge #EndWildlifeCrimepic.twitter.com/WvPKicvpY5
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2018
The trade is regarded as a global organised crime network estimated to be worth up to 23 billion US dollars (£18 billion) a year, according to United for Wildlife.
William added: “By disrupting the income of the illegal wildlife trade, we can disrupt a global criminal enterprise that brings great harm to communities all around the world.
“And we will be part of something that protects wildlife for future generations.”
