INTERVENTION BY MR JOSEPH TEO, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE HIGH-LEVEL THEMATIC DISCUSSION ON THE GLOBAL OBSERVANCE OF WORLD WILDLIFE DAY, 3 MARCH 2017

1.           We thank the PGA for convening this high-level thematic discussion on the global observance of World Wildlife Day.  This high-level meeting is opportune given the increasing threats faced by wildlife from poaching, habitat loss, and climate change.  While we have made some progress in addressing such threats, we clearly need to do more together to protect our wildlife and ecosystems.

2.           On this special occasion, I would like to underscore that Singapore is committed to wildlife conservation. The conservation of our natural heritage, both fauna and flora, has been a priority from the start, even as we balanced competing needs in a highly urbanized environment.

3.           Not many will know, but even as a small and highly urbanized city state, Singapore remains home to a wide diversity of plants and animals. In a land area of just over 700 square kilometres, we have 10 different ecosystems and over 40,000 species of flora and fauna.  We are a city full of trees and greenery and we have safeguarded 9% of our land for parks and nature reserves. We also have more than 250 hard coral species in our waters – about a third of the world’s total. To protect them, we created our first Marine Park in 2014.

Madam moderator,

4.           I would like to offer three points of reflection as part of our contribution to the discussion today on how we can strengthen our efforts to protect our wildlife and our fragile ecosystems.

5.           First, as the PGA has stated in his opening remarks earlier this morning, we each need to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG15, and our obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  As a Party to the Convention, and a member of the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), Singapore has put in place a solid legislative framework and has taken effective enforcement action against the illegal wildlife trade. We are determined not to be a conduit for such illegal trade.  Our strong rule of law enables us to take quick and effective actions when needed. Singapore is committed to wildlife conservation and we adopt a zero tolerance stance towards the illegal wildlife trade.

6.           Second, we need to coordinate and work more closely at the regional and international levels to protect our wildlife.  Singapore works closely with national, regional and international enforcement agencies and organisations, in particular UNODC, CITES and INTERPOL, on intelligence sharing and operations. This has resulted in several successful seizures of illegal wildlife. Singapore also works with an academic institution using wildlife DNA forensics as an enforcement tool to identify poaching hotspots to disrupt the illegal trade of wildlife at source. Singapore will continue to participate in regional and international wildlife enforcement operations with our partners.

7.           Third, we need to do more to galvanise support from our citizens.  Domestically, Singapore organises public awareness programmes to educate stakeholders and public on the detrimental effects of the illegal wildlife trade.   To succeed in our aim to protect wildlife, we need everyone to chip in and play our part.  We therefore welcome the participation of the youth in the debate today.  We commend the various initiatives that they have launched and we look forward to listening to their views on how we can work together to protect our wildlife and ecosystems.

                                                        .    .    .    .    .