8/16/2019 SG's Message - 2016 World Environment Day_EN

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U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

--MESSAGE ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

5 June 2016

This year’s observance of World Environment Day shines a much-needed spotlight on the illegaltrade in wildlife. There is grave cause for alarm. Elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory, rhinosfor their horns, and pangolins for their scales. From sea turtles to tigers to rosewood, thousands ofspecies of wild animals and plants are being driven ever closer to e tinction. The businesses andindividuals involved are motivated solely by short-term gain at the e pense of long-term benefit tocommunities and habitats. !n many instances, they act in collusion with transnational organi"ed crimenetwor#s and groups actively involved in destabili"ing nations.

The $nited %ations and its many partners have resolved to tac#le this illicit trade, including bysetting clear targets to put an end to poaching in the &ustainable Development 'oals , adopted last year

by all ()* +ember &tates. ast month, at the second $nited %ations Environment ssembly in %airobi,we launched a $% Wild For ife/ global campaign, led by the $% Environment 0rogramme 1$%E02,the $% Development 0rogramme 1$%D02, the $% 3ffice on Drugs and 4rime 1$%3D42 and the4onvention on the !nternational Trade in Wild &pecies of Fauna and Flora 14!TE&2. The campaign as#severyone to pledge to end the illegal trade in wildlife, from ordinary citi"ens, who can ensure they donot buy prohibited products, to governments, who can pursue change though implementing effective

policies to protect species and ecosystems.

ngola, which is this year’s World Environment Day global host, has served notice that it will nolonger tolerate the sale of illegal wildlife products, and is strengthening legislation and increasing border controls as part of efforts to restore elephant populations that were devastated by the country’s civil war.&uch action sends a strong message that wild species of plants and animals are a precious commoditythat must be sustainably managed and protected from illegal trade.

3n this World Environment Day, ! urge people and governments everywhere to overcomeindifference, combat greed and act to preserve our natural heritage for the benefit of this and futuregenerations.