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Campaigning for Species: The Grey Parrot Trade in Ghana

Campaigning for Species: The Grey Parrot Trade in Ghana. By Gerard H.O. Boakye Fundraising, Marketing & Corporate Affairs Ghana Wildlife Society . Effects of the Grey Parrot Trade in Ghana . Introduction-The Species and where it occurs The trade in West Africa Impacts of the Trade

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Campaigning for Species: The Grey Parrot Trade in Ghana

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  1. Campaigning for Species:The GreyParrotTrade inGhana By Gerard H.O. Boakye Fundraising, Marketing & Corporate Affairs Ghana Wildlife Society

  2. Effects of the Grey Parrot Trade in Ghana • Introduction-The Species and where it occurs • The trade in West Africa • Impacts of the Trade • Strategies • Past Efforts / Campaigns • Recent Developments / Conclusion

  3. Introduction-The Species & where it is • Timneh/maroon tail • (Psittacus erithacus timneh) • - West of Cote d’Ivoire, • to as far as Guinea: less intelligent, less colorful much lower price on the Int. mkt. • Redtail subspecies (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) • - To the East of Cote d’Ivoire across to Zaire

  4. “The West African”, “Ghanaian" or “Ordinary” red-tails or grey. – smaller, more intelligent, more preferable “Central African” or “Congo” greys.-much larger & healthier, higher price premium over the red-tails The Species and where it occurs:Species for Trade: Red-tail is further divided into two races

  5. TODAY, Only • GHANA & NIGERIA - Have significant populations • Ghana & Nigeria • Also have total bans on commercial exports for the international pet trade However, it is their parrots that flood the international market

  6. Between 1983 & 1989 - 346,782 grey parrots exported from 20 African countries Including SENEGAL & TOGO non-parrot range countries During the same period 10,405 were exported from other parts of the world The trade in West Africa cont.

  7. The trade in West Africa cont. • 61 countries in all between that period were recorded to have exported African Grey • Parrots are endemic to only 23 • In the past the specie has been traded in both LEGALLYand ILLEGALLY from several countries even those with no populations • However in all Ghana & Mali have shown decline in trade

  8. The trade in West Africa cont. • This international trade, is characterised by FRAUD • Export from non-parrot endemic countries • Dealers manipulating CITES permitting systems & under declaring export numbers • Trading countries incapable of proper monitoring and control of exports

  9. The trade in West Africa cont. • The scientific monitoring and legalistic requirement of IUCN Article IV have not been met by many countries • Although EU countries have banned imports the US & South Africa market continues to be open • Birds being smuggled from home range, through distant non-trading countries with no embargo, then to major markets

  10. There is no legal parrot trade in Ghana so Movement of birds are illegal Hence mortality is high, from - inhumane manner of concealing parrots - night operations to capture & process - secret holding facilities, - birds used in smuggling diamonds - Stress & death from long distance travelling by road Impacts of the trade in Ghana

  11. Other issues/threats to the species • Habitat loss from other resource exploitation • Inadequate scientific surveys for baseline data on population • Lack accurate assessment of effects of exploitation • Poor enforcement of wildlife laws by national border authorities at exit ports

  12. Campaigning for the SpeciesPast Efforts / Campaigns • The Wildlife Clubs adopted the head of the parrot as a logo to urge Ghanaian children to speak out against the inhumane trade in parrots • GWS led wildlife club members to appeal to judges in the US to give max sentence to an illegal exporter

  13. Campaigning for the Species Past Efforts / Campaigns • WCG members wrote to the President of Ghana to influence the release of several parrots intended for export and the prosecution of the exporter. • Finally WCG endorsed the total ban of parrot exportation; with a big match to express appreciation and educate the public.

  14. Campaigning for the Species Strategies: Advocacy & Lobbying • Need to step-up lobbying & advocacy to maintain the ban on trade in Ghana • Need to support the transfer of the species from Cites Appendix II to I • Enhancing the status &capacity of the Ghana Wildlife Division for better enforcement of the ban

  15. Improve, equip and provide subvention for Scientific Authority in Ghana & other countries to be efficient • Public awareness • Introduce a diplomatic dimension to address the big economies & players in the market

  16. Ban the big parrot • markets; the US Market • Address & lobby the role of Airlines • Promote cross border collaboration approach of natural resource management • Investigate the captive breeding options very well before recommendation

  17. Challenges • Funding: • Policy makers • Law enforcement agencies • External partners • Market countries • Neighbouring countries

  18. Conclusion Recent Developments • COP13 to CITES meeting, Bangkok Thailand October 2004 The United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service on Dec 5th 2003 requested for Ghana’s support on a proposed move of the parrot from Appendix II to Appendix I

  19. Conclusion The art is long and life is short, we need to move on You guys better move quick Once again we rely on the reputable strength of the BLI partnership

  20. MEDASI ! THANK YOU !

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