Who engages in "Bio-Piracy"? Who trades natural resources in Africa? And who is trying to prevent the depletion of biological diversity?
The answers are quite surprising. It is surprising that the answer to the last question is: the (new) Muslim government in Somalia at the northeastern tip of the continent. At the southern end, the "strange" government in Zimbabwe.
Despite attempts to stabilize a central government, since 1991 Somalia has been ruled by warlords, a few months ago Islamic elements took over most of the territories, and unlike the warlords, these elements are trying to stabilize the government and return an orderly way of life to the citizens. Among other things, for the first time in many years, the port of Mogadishu was opened for activity. To operate the port and allow the arrival of ships "treating" the rulers of the scourge of maritime robbery (piracy) that has invaded the waters of Somalia
In our case: Recently the Muslim Court of Somalia issued a "halachic ruling" intended for the protection of the environment and nature, according to the order of the court it is forbidden to cut down trees for the purpose of trading in charcoal. The court orders that the massive felling of groves caused long periods of drought, soil erosion and harm to wild animals, therefore a severe warning was directed mainly to merchants who are engaged in exporting charcoal-wood to neighboring countries - mainly to the United Emirates (in the Arabian Peninsula).
Not only trading in coal, the sheikhs in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are known for their appetite for wild animals, whether for keeping them as pets (cheetahs) or for hunting (eagles and falcons), Somalia was a close and cheap source for purchasing animals. The court issued an order prohibiting hunting, trading and possessing wild animals, when the order was accompanied by a stern warning that anyone caught would be imprisoned immediately. This is how the administration that the western world "is not happy" with its creation does to preserve natural resources and the environment.
Zimbabwe - despite (perhaps because of) being one of the most failed countries on the continent has always been a source of attraction for nature lovers. Large reserves with rich biological diversity, interesting and relatively easy to see, the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, mysterious archaeological remains ("Great Zimbabwe"), all these attract thousands of tourists who continue to come and visit despite (personal) insecurity, despite governmental instability and despite "lack of sympathy ” to the president.
Among the thousands of tourists there are those who take advantage of the governmental "mess" to smuggle animals and plants, smuggling that is contrary to the laws of the country and contrary to the International Convention for the Prevention of Trade and the Protection of Endangered Species (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). Despite the lack of governmental order, the President (at least in appearance) to preserve the attractiveness of his country, i.e. to protect the biological diversity by implementing the local laws and the international convention.
Smuggling of animals and plants (in Zimbabwe) is carried out using various strange methods: recently a number of people who entered the country as tourists were caught in possession of animals/plants that they tried to smuggle out of the country. A group of people who visited the Gonerza reserve, left the reserve on rural side roads that they suspected called the inspectors and they found in the "tourists'" boat: a pangolin, two pythons, five elephant tusks, three rhinoceros horns, several turtles and unidentified plants. In their investigation they said that they had to call an agent who would transfer the "goods" to Mozambique or DRAP and from there to Europe. In another case, a German "tourist" was caught on his way to the plane with 56 live snakes on board. The two cases are only the latest in a series of attempts - it can be assumed that in many cases also successes - to smuggle biological species, or as the subject is defined as bio-piracy according to the "Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation" - operation (CTA).
It is difficult to prevent smuggling, smuggling that harms the resources of developing countries: cats, parrots, monkeys, snakes and others are wanted alive or dead when the living are sold as pets, and the dead for skins and animal parts to be presented as "tropics", when collectors are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for the wings of a defined bird ( by the World Conservation Organization) as an endangered species. Rare orchids, proteas, roses, are uprooted and sold in the markets of Europe, USA and Japan. The growing demand for natural remedies causes the wild collection of plants and their destruction.
Bio-robbery is considered the third criminal activity in financial terms, after weapons and drugs. Those engaged in bio-robbery are equipped with the best modern equipment, helicopters, satellite tracking systems, weapons and above all connections with corrupt rulers, which allows extensive and almost uninterrupted activity. Those who go on a "mission" are equipped with a "shopping list" according to which they act, meaning that the shoppers order the items according to customer demand. Recently, containers marked with names (beetles and reptiles) were stopped at airports in DRAP on their way to "raid" the reserves of KwaZulu-Natal. In another case, snakes were found in hollow Bibles, birds' wings were painted to trick customs officials and inspectors.
The Bio-Robbery market deals with the sale of: pets, animal parts, wood, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and many other natural resources. The smugglers manage to combine the smuggled "goods" with legal loads and thus outwit customs inspections in the destination countries.
Probably the best option to prevent the continuation of bio-robbery is to put the supervision of the resources in the hands of the locals, the local residents who have the resources are the most skilled guards, so that they have an interest in guarding and not in making easy and quick profits by selling resources. They must understand the advantage of guarding, in order to This is how projects exist that teach the natives how to benefit from natural resources without harming them. In Zimbabwe and Kenya, the locals are allowed to develop ecological tourism projects, to develop nurseries for local trees, fish ponds and vegetable gardens whose produce is marketed to tourists, tourists who come to the reserves. In Chad, the Nile Nile is raised in "breeding farms", the skins and meat are sold in the neighboring countries.
With the help of spreading the idea of sustainable utilization of resources by the natives, it will (perhaps) be possible to regulate the sale of the products, and since the natives will have an interest/profit in marketing, there is a chance to reduce bio-theft
