[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DAY

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, as cochairs of the International 
Conservation Caucus, Senator Tom Udall and I stand together on Wildlife 
Conservation Day, December 4th, to emphasize the need for governments, 
organizations, and individuals to protect the world's endangered 
species, which face threats from poaching, illicit trade, pollution, 
and improper land use.
  The International Conservation Caucus has focused attention this 
Congress on poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, a lucrative and 
illicit global market worth anywhere from $5 to $20 billion annually. 
This trade threatens biodiversity, stability, and the rule of law.
  New initiatives proposed by the U.S. State Department are needed to 
protect wildlife, combat trafficking, and reduce demand. We applaud the 
State Department's commitment to strengthening a global system of 
wildlife enforcement and the work of the U.S. Agency for International 
Development to strengthen regional antitrafficking networks.
  In addition, we and our allies should investigate and prosecute 
wildlife crime more aggressively, but we should not see the seizure of 
ivory, rhino horns, and other wildlife products as the sole measure of 
success. We must also reduce demand, take down trafficking kingpins 
through international law enforcement efforts, and protect wildlife 
populations to prevent environmental devastation. Advanced technologies 
and modern forensics can aid these efforts.
  On the diplomatic front, our Ambassadors must increase the pressure 
on countries to ensure members of their militaries and law enforcement 
agencies do not look the other way or participate in trafficking of 
wildlife and that enforcement is rigorous. Public education programs 
both abroad and here in the United States must be expanded to reduce 
demand for trafficked wildlife and products.
  We look forward to continuing to promote policies that protect 
natural resources and wildlife. Wildlife conservation is vital to 
maintaining biodiversity, global stability, and economic vitality 
across the world.

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