Illegal wildlife trade represents one of the greatest threat to the world’s wildlife, which is facing an extinction crisis.  According to a the WWF Living Planet Index report published in 2016, there has been a 58% overall decline in the numbers of fish, mammals, birds and reptiles worldwide since 1970. Scientists have estimated that species are going extinct at a rate that’s roughly 100 times higher than normal, and this is leading to the collapse of ecosystems which could affect the very survival of humankind.

The regulations also protect thousands of others by including species from two international lists that form the world’s most complete record on the global conservation status of species – the IUCN red lists and CITES Appendix listings, and was written with the top scientific, conservation and species experts in Malawi. They list the three groups of species that are now protected under the NPWA as follows:

Protected species

This is any species – mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate, fish, fungi or plant – in a protected area (a national park, wildlife reserve or forest reserve). This category is important because it protects species that are not already recorded as endangered or listed, such as warthogs. It also protects trees, like the Mopane rosewood, from deforestation and illegal logging, as well as the unique species of fish found in Lake Malawi National Park. A conviction for possession or dealing of a protected species holds a penalty of a fine of up to K5,000,000 and/or up to ten years in prison.

Endangered species

The are many species recorded as endangered under the new law, including caracals, servals, civets, blue monkeys, antelope such as impala, duiker and waterbuck, reptiles such as the Nile crocodile, boomslang and leopard tortoise and birds including the African fish eagle, lilac-breasted roller and Marabou stork. The penalty for possession or dealing in an endangered species is up to 30 years in jail, with the option of a fine of up to K15,000,000.

Listed species

This records the most protected species in the National Parks and Wildlife Act and includes species that are unique to Malawi, such as the Mulanje cedar. Elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, cheetahs and giraffes are all listed species, as are African wild dogs, Nyasa wildebeest and pangolins – the world’s most trafficked animal. A conviction for dealing or possession of a listed species holds the highest penalty – up to 30 years in jail, with no option of a fine.

Malawi has received international recognition for its strong and swift response to the threat of illegal wildlife trade, with new legislation being just one of a number of interventions introduced by the Malawi Government, which have included specialised wildlife crime investigations capacity and an Inter-Agency Committee to Combat Wildlife Crime.

For more information contact the Department of National Parks & Wildlife at dpw@wildlifemw.net

Source: www.lilongwewildlife.org 

The post 216 New Species Now Protected Under Malawi Law appeared first on African Conservation Foundation.

The results indicated that the court programme was also effective in isolation from other initiatives recently introduced to tackle wildlife crime. During the pilot project period (July 2016-June 2017) 100% of privately prosecuted cases and 80% of court monitored cases resulted in custodial sentences, versus 0% of cases that were neither monitored nor privately prosecuted.

The new court initiatives were introduced by the Department of National Parks & Wildlife, Malawi Police Service, the Department of Public Prosecutions and Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in response to the poor court outcomes highlighted in the Illegal Wildlife Trade Review published in 2015.

Sentencing had averaged just $40 and only two prison sentences had been passed between 2011 and 2016. Since the launch of the court programme, the average conviction now stands at three years, and those convicted under private prosecution are currently being put behind bars for up to 14 years.

Patrick Matanda, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, said, ‘I am encouraged to see that wildlife law enforcement in Malawi is strengthening and our response to the wildlife crime crisis is becoming a deterrent.  It is essential that we continue to be progressive and sustain our coordinated and collaborative approach, because there is still much for all of us to do.’

Malawi’s other recent initiatives to combat illegal wildlife trade have included a specialised Wildlife Crime Investigations Unit, which has resulted in improved interception rates, and a new Wildlife Act Amendment Bill, which has critically strengthened sentencing provisions to up to 30 years with no option of a fine.

Dudu Douglas-Hamilton from Save the Elephants –­ co-funders of the court projects through the Elephant Crisis Fund, partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Fund and Stop Ivory – said: ‘A key to Malawi’s recent successes has been to tackle the whole enforcement chain. There is little point in apprehending poachers or traffickers if you can’t bring them to justice in the courtroom.  What’s more, the public-private collaborations, progressive attitude and drive for results is something that you don’t see everywhere else.  Malawi has achieved a great deal in a relatively short space of time, but this is just the beginning and we must do all we can to continue to support their efforts.’

Read the full report here

Source:
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre

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