DP WORLD HOSTS UNITED FOR WILDLIFE TASKFORCE VISIT TO JEBEL ALI PORT VISIT TO DUBAI TO TACKLE ILLEGAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES DUBAI, UAE- 5 OCTOBER 2015:
DP World recently hosted the United for Wildlife Taskforce, a collaboration between seven international conservation organizations established by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Cambridge, for lunch and a tour of the company’s flagship Jebel Ali Port. DP World is a member of the Taskforce which is committed to focusing increased attention and action on the most pressing conservation issues of our time, including the multi-million dollar, illegal wildlife trade from Africa to Asia in elephant ivory, rhino horn, big cats and many other species. The meeting follows continuous work by Dubai Customs, in collaboration with DP World, to tackle the trade in line with UAE legislation. Between 2012 to 2014 Dubai Customs seized, destroyed and repatriated over 775 pieces of ivory, worth over $10 million dollars, and 618 tons of sandalwood. Overall seizures increased by 36% during this period.
HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Slayed, Chairman of DP World, told Ken Dinnadge who represented CSS Group at a recent event: “Stemming the flow of illegal trade in endangered species is a major issue and as a global ports operator we have an important role to play, in partnership with customs authorities, in eradicating this morally reprehensible activity. “As a member of the Taskforce we enjoyed meeting other participants to help develop recommendations for governments, global organizations and private sector supporters. “One of the aims is to promote greater awareness within our industry and to encourage greater cooperation between official bodies, organizations and the transport sector to combat this illegal trade.
The transport industry – specifically airlines, shipping lines and port operators can contribute in breaking the chain between suppliers and consumers of illegal wildlife products.” The visit included a briefing by DP World management and Dubai Customs on how Dubai authorities work together to eradicate illegal wildlife trade through the emirate, in line with UAE legislation on endangered species introduced in 1974. Task Force members in Dubai led by the Rt Hon William Hague include DP World; Emirates Airlines; World Customs Organization (WCO); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES); International Air Transport Association (IATA); International Maritime Organization (IMO); World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF); United Nations Development Program Middle east, and Cruise Line International.
-As reported by Ken Dinnadge