Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 12, 2007 Canada Joins the Coalition Against Wildlife TraffickingAssistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science Claudia A. McMurray and Canadian Minister of the Environment John Baird announced today that Canada has joined the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT). Wildlife trafficking generates, by a conservative estimate, $10 billion a year, trailing only the illegal trade in drugs and weapons. It is estimated that 25,000-40,000 primates and 2-5 million live birds are illegally traded globally every year. Canada's commitment to CAWT, and to hiring additional officers to enforce environmental laws, will be a valuable addition to our fight to halt the loss of biodiversity, protect human health, promote sustainable livelihoods, and end criminal activities throughout the globe. |