WORLD ELEPHANT DAY 2015, KEYSTONE SPECIES CRITICAL FOR ECOSYSTEMS & BIODIVERSITY

USPA NEWS - In August 12, 2105, was celebrated the World Elephant Day 2015. It was intitiated by the organization IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) because Human activties are the biggest threat to the survival of elephants. They expect some follow up and measures to be taken rapidly...

Human activities are the biggest threat to the suvival of those animals mostly because of poaching and habitat destruction. Human animal conflicts have devastating effects on elephant populations. IFAW urges to take action from the international community to protect the elephants for future generations. Current population estimates suggest alarming declines in elephant numbers in part of Central and West Africa, as well as an increasing risk of the local extinction of some populations with more animals being killed than being born. Nearly 35,000 elephants die each year for their ivory or one every 15 minutes. 100,000 elephants were killed by poachers in the last 10 years.

Last June, the European Commission released its list of Planned Commission Initiatives. The Commission will prepare an Action Plan Against Wildlife Trafficking. Nevertheless, the list of planned activities by the Commission does not garantee any of this will be adopted "This validation does not prejudge the outcome of this preparatory work nor the final adoption of any initiative by the college. In particular the legal bases, scope, timing and type of initiative may change."

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) represent one the main threats to biodiversity and related ecosystem services. More than 12,000 alien species have been identified in Europe with at least 1,500 considered invasive.

By January 2016, a list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern will be adopted banning the import, trade, sale, breeding, keeping, release into the wild and transport of the species within the European Union (Regulation 1143/2014).

"Whilst recognizing the main responsibility for adressing such crimes lies with the member States, without coordonated action between member States and other international actors, the criminals will always have the upper hand"

International Fund for Animal Welfare