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Resources massively stacked against conservation
Resources Massively Stacked against Conservation The UK Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), in its annual report* (covering the period 1 April 198031 March 1981), describes in detail 'the task facing the nation' to ensure that nature conservation is "adequately taken into account from the outset in the way the use of land and resources is planned". "At present resources are massively stacked against conservation", the report points out, adding that "grants are still given for schemes that destroy important wildlife habitats. For example the Government and the European Economic Community (EEC) provide substantial grants to farmers to enable them to drain land, plough up old meadows and otherwise improve their land for agricultural productivity-inevitably to the detriment of its wildlife." The NCC argues that some of the funds currently devoted to agricultural development could be used to *NCC Seventh Report (1 April'198031 March 1981) published by NCC, £4.00 net ISBN 0 86139 197 7. Obtainable from Government bookshops or by post from H.M.S.O., p I3. Box 569, London SE1.
encourage techniques and an intensity of production compatible with wildlife protection, ensuring the maintenance of farm incomes whilst advancing the cause of nature conservation. "The effect of such a change of emphasis on national agricultural productivity would be tiny, because most of the larger areas that are important for nature conservation are on land of little agricultural value, often in upland areas." Commenting on the final outcome of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the NCC welcomes the prospects for the establishment of statutory Marine Nature Reserves, fuller consultation on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the use of farm capital grants to meet certain nature conservation requirements within schemes benefiting circumstances so that those whose land includes SSSIs are not unreasonably disadvantaged. But the concept of stewardship is still intrinsic to the Act's provisions. Conservation, especially in the wider countryside, is going to depend, as it always has, on the goodwill of those who own and manage the land.
Japan to Halt Illegal Wildlife Trade* In a move which could have major consequences for world conservation, WWF/IUCN will open a new Tokyo office called TRAFFIC Japan, it was announced at the World Conservation Centre near Geneva on 13 May 1982. The office will be modelled on similar operations in the US, the Federal Republic of Germany and the U.K, and follows the decision by Japan to accept the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Japan is a key figure in many aspects of wildlife trade and the new TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis *Courtesy WWF/IUCN News Release. 264
of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) office will work closely with customs authorities to see that the CITES regulations are strictly enforced. Tom Milliken, a Japanese-speaking American conservationist, will be in day-to-day charge of operations, reporting to Mr Hyosuke Kujiraoka, former Director of the Japanese Government's Environmental Protection Agency. TRAFFIC is backed by a strong scientific advisory committee headed by Dr Hideo Obara, one of Japan's leading zoologists and a member of the Board of WWF Japan. Mr Eug6ne Lapointe, recently appointed Secretary General of CITES, described the opening of TRAFFIC Japan as "a major step towards the development of the awareness re-
quired for international cooperation in controlling the trade in endangered species; awareness and cooperation are two absolutely key elements in the attainment of our objectives." Japan, historically one of the leading traffickers in endangered species, appears to be undergoing a change in public attitude, according to Mr Milliken. "The acceptance of CITES by Japan in 1980 represented a conservation milestone. As one of the world's leading consumers of wildlife, strict enforcement of CITES presents a formidable challenge but also provides a clear opportunity for Japan to move into the conservation mainstream. I look forward to cooperation with the CITES Management authorities." Japan, after the US, is the world's largest consumer of wildlife and, on a per capita basis, may be number one. Approximately one-third of the world trade in birds involves Japan. Almost all of the musk and most of the tortoise shell in world trade is consumed by Japan. Next to the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan is the largest trader in furskins of wild species, and is a leading importer of shells, coral, reptile skins, primates, butterflies and tropical fish. In short Japan is deeply involved in almost every area of wildlife trade. According to Mr MiUiken, "CITES has not yet halted Japan's fur consumption. Last year saw a continuation of the boom. Stockpiling, which occured before the acceptance of CITES, guarantees that endangered species will continue to be traded for some time to come." Upon acceptance of CITES, Japan listed 9 reservations (exceptions to importing endangered species ineluded on CITES Appendix I, a list of plants and animals for which commercial trade is proscribed) and has since added two more, including 3 species of whales, 3 of sea turtles, 3 of monitor lizards, the saltwater crocodile and the Himalayan musk deer. Although Nepal has banned trade in the highly endangered musk deer since 1973, Japan continues to consume 90% of the international trade. Conservationists report that imports from Nepal decreased from 156 kilos in 1980 to 25 kilos in
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encourage techniques and an intensity of production compatible with wildlife protection, ensuring the maintenance of farm incomes whilst advancing the cause of nature conservation. "The effect of such a change of emphasis on national agricultural productivity would be tiny, because most of the larger areas that are important for nature conservation are on land of little agricultural value, often in upland areas." Commenting on the final outcome of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the NCC welcomes the prospects for the establishment of statutory Marine Nature Reserves, fuller consultation on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the use of farm capital grants to meet certain nature conservation requirements within schemes benefiting circumstances so that those whose land includes SSSIs are not unreasonably disadvantaged. But the concept of stewardship is still intrinsic to the Act's provisions. Conservation, especially in the wider countryside, is going to depend, as it always has, on the goodwill of those who own and manage the land.
Japan to Halt Illegal Wildlife Trade* In a move which could have major consequences for world conservation, WWF/IUCN will open a new Tokyo office called TRAFFIC Japan, it was announced at the World Conservation Centre near Geneva on 13 May 1982. The office will be modelled on similar operations in the US, the Federal Republic of Germany and the U.K, and follows the decision by Japan to accept the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Japan is a key figure in many aspects of wildlife trade and the new TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis *Courtesy WWF/IUCN News Release. 264
of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) office will work closely with customs authorities to see that the CITES regulations are strictly enforced. Tom Milliken, a Japanese-speaking American conservationist, will be in day-to-day charge of operations, reporting to Mr Hyosuke Kujiraoka, former Director of the Japanese Government's Environmental Protection Agency. TRAFFIC is backed by a strong scientific advisory committee headed by Dr Hideo Obara, one of Japan's leading zoologists and a member of the Board of WWF Japan. Mr Eug6ne Lapointe, recently appointed Secretary General of CITES, described the opening of TRAFFIC Japan as "a major step towards the development of the awareness re-
quired for international cooperation in controlling the trade in endangered species; awareness and cooperation are two absolutely key elements in the attainment of our objectives." Japan, historically one of the leading traffickers in endangered species, appears to be undergoing a change in public attitude, according to Mr Milliken. "The acceptance of CITES by Japan in 1980 represented a conservation milestone. As one of the world's leading consumers of wildlife, strict enforcement of CITES presents a formidable challenge but also provides a clear opportunity for Japan to move into the conservation mainstream. I look forward to cooperation with the CITES Management authorities." Japan, after the US, is the world's largest consumer of wildlife and, on a per capita basis, may be number one. Approximately one-third of the world trade in birds involves Japan. Almost all of the musk and most of the tortoise shell in world trade is consumed by Japan. Next to the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan is the largest trader in furskins of wild species, and is a leading importer of shells, coral, reptile skins, primates, butterflies and tropical fish. In short Japan is deeply involved in almost every area of wildlife trade. According to Mr MiUiken, "CITES has not yet halted Japan's fur consumption. Last year saw a continuation of the boom. Stockpiling, which occured before the acceptance of CITES, guarantees that endangered species will continue to be traded for some time to come." Upon acceptance of CITES, Japan listed 9 reservations (exceptions to importing endangered species ineluded on CITES Appendix I, a list of plants and animals for which commercial trade is proscribed) and has since added two more, including 3 species of whales, 3 of sea turtles, 3 of monitor lizards, the saltwater crocodile and the Himalayan musk deer. Although Nepal has banned trade in the highly endangered musk deer since 1973, Japan continues to consume 90% of the international trade. Conservationists report that imports from Nepal decreased from 156 kilos in 1980 to 25 kilos in
The Environmentalist