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<p>Defra is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department
for International Development, the Home Office and other parts of Government to ensure
the UK is playing a major role in helping to tackle the scourge of the illegal wildlife
trade and in implementing the commitments made at the London Conference. Actions are
taking place in four main areas: eradicating the market for illegal wildlife products;
ensuring effective legal frameworks and deterrents; strengthening law enforcement;
and supporting sustainable livelihoods and economic development. In particular, Defra
is:</p><p> </p><ul><li>continuing to work with our international partners in governments
and international organisations to ensure that the illegal wildlife trade has the
high level political attention it deserves in all relevant international fora, including
at the United Nations Environment Assembly in June and during the UN General Assembly
taking place in New York;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>delivering £10 million of funding
(over this and next three financial years) to support implementation of London Declaration
commitments. Support for five Illegal Wildlife Trade projects submitted under the
Darwin Initiative was announced in March with a total value of £1.3 million. Further
projects will be supported through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, on which
we expect to announce successful projects later in the autumn;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>supporting
the Elephant Protection Initiative (launched at the London Conference by five African
states) with a commitment to match the first tranche of private funding amounting
to around £1 million;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>playing a leading role in Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Following the July meeting of
the CITES Standing Committee in Geneva, the UK has remained in the chair of the Rhino
Working Group, which develops recommendations to hold the international community
to account for delivery on its commitments;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>planning to commission
new research into the international impacts of the illegal wildlife trade and on reducing
consumer demand in Asia. We will co-ordinate closely with the key international organisations
actively involved in the issue; and</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>providing logistical
and organisational support to the Government of Botswana. This includes providing
the Secretariat for a Senior Officials Group, comprising representatives from countries
and international organisations, to help ensure the success of the follow-on conference.
The UK will also be making a financial contribution to the costs of the Conference.</li></ul><p>
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