Belo Horizonte International Airport announces adhesion to Prince William's project to combat trafficking in wild plants and animals

Belo Horizonte International Airport announces adhesion to Prince William’s project to combat trafficking in wild plants and animals

Celebration of World Day for Nature Conservation takes place with the signing of the Buckingham Palace Declaration in Defense of Wildlife

On World Day for the Conservation of Nature, Belo Horizonte International Airport announces its commitment to combating trafficking in wild plants and animals and raising global awareness in defense of the cause as a member of the NGO United For Wildlife (Union for Wild Lives).

The commitment was sealed with the signing of the Buckingham Palace Declaration by the CEO of BH Airport, Kleber Meira, integrating the more than 40 companies and organizations around the world that support the NGO chaired by Prince William. The Minas Gerais terminal is one of the first airports in Latin America to sign the Buckingham Palace Declaration, strengthening one of the management pillars that demonstrate the pioneering spirit in developing and implementing initiatives focused on sustainability.

“We work together with Public Security and Environment bodies and agencies with the objective of detecting and stopping possible occurrences of wildlife trafficking during operations”, says Kleber. “The creation of our own channel for public complaints is one of the actions foreseen in our commitment to combat the international trafficking of wildlife, identifying suspects of illegal trade, sharing information and developing integrated mechanisms with United For Wildlife”, he adds.

In addition to this initiative, the airport will carry out specific training for professionals responsible for inspection at the mining terminal, in partnership with the Airports Council International (ACI) and the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), with the content that is based on the prevention and containment of the trafficking of wild animals. Training will be mandatory and incorporated into the routine of inspection professionals, involving all employees.

Combating wildlife trafficking in Brazil
According to IBAMA data, 38 million wild animals are removed from nature in Brazil annually and only 4 million survive the illegal trade. In Minas, the Wild Animal Screening Center (Cetas-BH) receives, on average, 10,000 animals per year. Most of them are victims of trafficking, which is the third largest illegal activity in the world, with an estimated movement of between US$ 10 and US$ 20 billion per year, only behind the trafficking of arms and drugs.

Crime provided for in Section III, article 29 of Law 9,605/98, which regulates criminal and administrative sanctions for conduct and activities harmful to the environment, trafficking in wild animals exposes species to the risk of extinction, triggering ecological imbalances that threaten biodiversity in the planet. This law prohibits the sale, export, acquisition, keeping in captivity or transport of wild animals without proper authorization. In addition to the crime of trafficking, the article describes as an illicit act the conduct of killing, chasing, hunting, catching or using wild species, without permission from the competent authority.

Birds account for more than 80% of trafficked animals. The blue-fronted parrot, the yellow-faced parakeet, the red macaw, the corió, the toucan, the golden lion tamarin, the capuchin monkey, the marmoset, the boa and the black bird are among the main victims destined for private collectors. Species such as jararaca, rattlesnake, surucucu, true coral, yellow scorpion, brown spider, wasps and beetles are commonly trafficked for illegal scientific purposes. Contact for complaints is via Ibama’s Green Line, at 0800-618-080 or by e-mail:linhaverde.sede@ibama.gov.br.

Contact

Belo Horizonte/Confins – Tancredo Neves International Airport
LMG-800 Km 7,9 s/n, Confins - MG, 33500-900, Brazil
Brazil
  • +55 31 3689-2700