Lao delegation to participate in conference against illegal wildlife trade

Lao PDR will send a delegation to London for the largest ever global conference on the illegal wildlife trade. The Lao delegation supported by the British Embassy Vientiane and led by Lao Vice Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Phouangparisck Pravongviengkham will attend the conference which runs from Feb. 11-13. "We're bringing together around 50 countries from around the world," British Ambassador to Laos Philip Malone told Xinhua at an awareness-raising event here in Lao capital Vientiane Wednesday. "Lao PDR is one of those transit countries so we're very keen to involve them in this process so they can be part of the work to undermine the networks that feed on this sort of criminal trafficking," he said. The conference aims to reframe illegal wildlife trade as a multi- billion dollar criminal enterprise as opposed to a purely environmental issue. Focus will be placed on the destruction that the trade causes to poverty eradication efforts, sustainable development and national security. According to a British Embassy Vientiane press release, the conference's objectives are to improve law enforcement, increase the role of the criminal justice system, reduce the demand for wildlife products and support the development of sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by illegal wildlife trade. Lao PDR has been named as a priority country for the conference due to the growing impact of illegal wildlife trade in the country. Several of Lao's neighboring countries are amongst the world's biggest markets for illegal wildlife products making Lao PDR both a source and destination for illegally poached animals. The London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade will be hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron in conjunction with members of the British Royal Family including Prince Charles, the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry as well as United for Wildlife, a collaboration between the Royal Foundation and seven of the world's most influential conservation organizations.