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Cameroon: Nature Conservation

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the extent of wildlife trafficking in Cameroon; and what discussions he has had with the Cameroon government on the matter. (308101)

We are in contact with a number of organisations and individuals involved in the fight against wildlife trafficking in Cameroon, including through the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA), a Cameroonian non-government organisation that has received Government funding. LAGA works closely with the Cameroonian Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife Protection to enforce laws on wildlife trafficking and achieved the first prosecutions in Cameroonian courts for wildlife trafficking offences.

The Cameroonian law enforcement authorities have had some notable successes in recent months in intercepting illegal shipments of wildlife. In November 2009, our High Commissioner met the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Protection and underlined the importance we place on sustained government efforts to identify, interdict and prosecute wildlife trafficking.