In his first speech as Prince of Wales, William defends wildlife

LONDON –

Prince William delivered his first speech as heir to the British throne at a wildlife protection summit on Tuesday, signaling the royal family will continue to champion environmental causes as King Charles III is forced to withdraw from the campaign to protect wildlife. first line.

William delivered the keynote address at the United for Wildlife global summit in London, addressing some 300 representatives from law enforcement agencies, conservation groups and corporations working to combat the illegal trade in wildlife products, which it is estimated at 20 billion US dollars per year.

The prince and his Royal Foundation created the United for Wildlife in 2014 to protect endangered species from the illegal trade in goods such as elephant ivory and rhino horn. Working with organizations that target money laundering and other forms of organized crime, the group says it has trained more than 100,000 people and contributed to some 250 arrests and 200 seizures of illegal animal products around the world.

The natural world is a gift that everyone should protect, William told the gathering.

“It’s a lesson I learned from a very young age, from my father and grandfather, both committed naturalists in their own right, and also from my grandmother, who I missed so much, who cared so much about the natural world,” he said, referring to Carlos and the late Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. “In times of loss, it is a comfort to honor those we miss through the work we do.”

William cited the recent conviction of a 49-year-old man on wildlife trafficking charges as an example of how agencies are working across borders to address the problem.

Moazu Kromah, a Liberian national, conspired with two other men to smuggle around 190 kilograms (419 pounds) of rhino horn and 10 tons of ivory from various East African nations to buyers in the US and the Southeast. between 2012 and 2019, according to the US Justice Department. About 35 rhinos and 100 elephants are likely to have been poached to supply this weight of material, the department said.

Kromah, 49, was extradited to New York from Uganda in 2019. He pleaded guilty to three counts of wildlife trafficking earlier this year and was sentenced to 63 months in jail.

The conviction was the result of cooperation between Ugandan and Kenyan authorities, as well as the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Justice Department said.

But despite such successes, violent criminals continue to poach because of the huge profits from illegal wildlife trafficking, William said. Anton Mzimba, a ranger who was shot dead outside his home in South Africa earlier this year, is believed to have been one of his victims.

“Anton dedicated himself to the protection of wildlife, assuming his role with diligence and professionalism despite the threats against his life,” the prince said. “He stood up to violent criminals and paid the ultimate price. It’s only right that we pay tribute to him and all the other selfless rangers and front-line conservationists here today.”

William’s speech came less than a month after he assumed the role of heir to the throne when his father, now King Charles III, became monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The choice of location shows that protecting the environment will remain a real priority, although Carlos is likely to move away from an issue he has championed for 50 years.

Under the rules governing Britain’s constitutional monarchy, the sovereign is prohibited from interfering in political affairs. To ensure that these rules were adhered to, Elizabeth assiduously kept her opinions to herself during her long reign.

While Charles has acknowledged that he will have to be more careful with his public statements now that he is king, he has also made it clear that he planned to pass on the baton.

“It will no longer be possible for me to devote so much of my time and energy to the charities and issues that matter so much to me,” the new king said in his first address to the nation. “But I know this important work will continue in the trusted hands of others.”

William’s own commitment to the environment was on full display last summer when he spoke at an internationally televised concert outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate the late queen’s 70 years on the throne.

With images of a lush green jungle projected on the palace walls behind him, William called for international cooperation to combat climate change.

“Together, if we harness the best of humanity and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, our grandchildren and future generations,” he said.

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