Government and other leaders have pledged to continue the fight against the illegal trade in wildlife at an event held by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) together with UNDP, UNODC and others.

Two specific targets to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of fauna and flora, as well as to boost the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihoods, are now included within SDG goal number 15.

At a high-level event taking place alongside the General Assembly in New York’s Central Park Zoo, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark described the illegal trade in wildlife as “a development, environmental and security challenge”.

The adoption of the SDGs containing the specific targets signals “a powerful expression of political determination to end these highly destructive crimes,” said CITES Secretary General John Scanlon.

The event was held by the Governments of Gabon and Germany, the CITES Secretariat, UNDP, UNODC and the World Bank, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other civil society partners.

To learn more on efforts against the illegal wildlife trade please write to yuan.liu@cites.org.