The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) lamented, from 08 to 09 December in Douala, the threat to elephants and great apes in Central Africa subregion
WWF’s finding is supported by the results of a study focused on Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville published recently by researchers and scientists. According to the study “Devastating Decline of Forest Elephants in Central Africa” published in March 2013 and conducted by more than sixty scientists in five elephant range countries mentioned above, elephant populations decreased in the forest 62 percent between 2002 and 2012 due to the slaughter for ivory.
Yet the conservation organization WWF, scientists, curious people, and decision-makers recognize that: “The elephant is the effective disseminator of certain species such as moabi. Indeed the germination of a seed of moabi can only take place if it passes through the digestive tract of an elephant, which secretes certain enzymes which have the effect of lifting the dormancy of the seed.”
WWF says other protected animal species are threatened by poachers for objects such as the scales of pangolins, leopard skins, for purposes of consumption or observance, gray parrots’ red tail, turtle shells, and other elephant products such as its tail, skull, jaw, etc.
“White collar poachers are heavily involved in the slaughter and trade of ivory. In recent years the pangolin has become threatened due to its scales that are rare. The latest recorded seizure was of 270 kilos of scales,” said Alain Bernard Ononino, head of wildlife crime program at WWF in Central Africa.
Yet CITES requires Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon, including other state parties, to establish internal regulations to control the business of endangered species. Despite these laws there is, in these states, the persistence of corruption, influence peddling, favoritism, various complicity and misappropriation of seized goods. WWF wants to share its enhanced collaboration between the services in charge of law enforcement in combating corruption and related offenses.
Recall that the moabi, mentioned above, or Baillonella toxisperma, is a plant species of the family Sapotaceae. It is a large tree growing in the rainforests of Africa. It is the only species of the genus Baillonella. This is a multiple-use species traditionally used by various African populations. It is also commercially exploited by tropical timber exporters. Up to nearly seventy meters high, it overlooks the canopy with a width more than five meters in diameter. Moabi matures in about fifty years, and it takes about 600 years to reach a height of nearly sixty meters and about 260 years to reach a diameter of one meter.
Sidebar: the national laws of States
Cameroon : -Law No. 94/01 of 20 January 1994 to lay down forestry, wildlife and fisheries
Decree n ° 95/466 of 20 July 1995 laying down detailed rules of wildlife regime
Congo : -Law No. 37-2008 of 28 November 2008 on wildlife and protected areas
-Stop No. 0103 / MEF / SGEF / DCPP of 30 January 1984 laying down provisions relating to the export of products of wildlife and wild flora of the Ministry of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development (MEFDD).
Gabon: -Law No 16/2001 of 31 December 2001 on the Forestry Code in the Gabonese Republic Decree No. 0163 / PR / MEF of 19 January 2011 laying down the conditions of detention, transportation and marketing of wild animal species, trophies and hunting products.
Central African Republic : – Ordinance No. 84-045 of 27 July 1984 on the protection of wildlife and regulating the practice of hunting in Central African Republic
– Ordinance No. 84-062 of 9 October 1984 fixing the shooting conditions and export of wild animals
· DRC : -Law No. 14/003 of 11 February 2014 relating to the Conservation
-Law N ° 82-002 of 28 May 1982 hunting regulations
-Stop No. 014 / CAB / MIN / ENV / 2004 of 29 April 2004 on measures for implementing Law No 82-002 of 28 May 1982 hunting regulations
Chad: -Law No. 08 / PR / 14 of 10 June 2008 to lay down forestry, wildlife and fisheries resources