ENVIRONMENT : EU STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST WILDLIFE CRIME.

The international fight against illegal trade in wild flora and fauna is set to receive a boost from the EU. The European Commission has unlocked funds of 1.73 million to support Interpol, the international police organisation, in its struggle against wildlife crime. The Commission is also allocating 2 million to allow for the extension of the MIKE programme, set up under the CITES Convention to monitor and combat the illegal trading of ivory and rhinoceros horns across Africa.

Interpol's Combat Wildlife Crime project, which falls under the umbrella of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), also includes the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

Founded in 2010, the ICCWC provides coordinated support to national wildlife law enforcement agencies and sub-regional and regional networks in charge of applying legislation on wild flora and fauna. The programme aims to reinforce long-term capacities, improve the exchange of information and intelligence at international level, coordinate enforcement efforts and contribute to better governance and the fight against corruption.

Key activities include the analysis of capacity needs supported by the provision of technical and...