Africa gets boost to combat wildlife trade

• News & Highlights

Africa's efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade and support sustainable development got a boost last week, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the African Union Commission and international nongovernmental organization Traffic.

Under the agreement, the two parties will jointly support AU member states' policies for environment, wildlife management and trade, as well as conservation.

It will act as a framework to combat illegal exploitation and trade in Africa's rich wildlife with a joint goal of protecting flora and fauna on land, wetlands and marine ecosystems.

Traffic, a nonprofit working on the biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the trade of wild animals and plants, will provide the AU Commission and its member states with the latest evidence-based technical guidance to implement sustainable natural resource strategies that support national economies and local community development.