Doha, November 07 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has secured international recognition for its substantial progress in combating illegal ivory trade, with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Standing Committee deciding to end the State of Qatar's participation in the National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) process after the country implemented 93 percent of the measures in its national plan.
Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Maslamani, said the move followed a positive assessment by the CITES Secretariat, which recommended ending the State of Qatar's participation in the process.
He explained to Qatar News Agency that the achievement was an outgrowth of joint national action and constant coordination among the relevant entities, culminating in commendation during a Standing Committee meeting.
The assessment also showed a decline of more than 99 percent in the quantities of illegal ivory seized in other countries and linked to shipments that had transited through the State of Qatar, compared with the eight years preceding the launch of the national plan in 2018. 
This suggests a quite substantial improvement in the indicator associated with the exploitation of international transit routes for illegal ivory trade.
Al Maslamani said the move grew out of a comprehensive package of measures, rather than a single action, comprising 15 priority measures. These included developing monitoring procedures, strengthening inspection and law enforcement, fostering the efficiency of national personnel, improving information interchange and managing the government's ivory stockpile.
  He stressed that this decline represents an incentive to continue developing the measures and enhancing their effectiveness, rather than a justification for easing oversight.
Al Maslamani further pointed out that combating illegal ivory trade requires integrating the roles of MECC and the participating national entities, linking environmental expertise with customs and security operations, as well as transport and border-crossing procedures. This integrated approach is intended to ensure combined efforts and achieve a common goal, he continued. 
Regarding enforcement, he explained that the appropriate authorities at border crossings, together with environmental and security agencies, operate through monitoring, inspection and verification of documents and permits required according to the type of shipment and the provisions of the Convention. Violations are dealt with and referred to the constituted authorities.
He also highlighted that the responsibilities of the Wildlife Development Department include approving permits for the import, export, transport and transit of endangered wildlife species and their products, in lockstep with the appropriate authorities, as well as detecting violations of permit conditions and referring them to the appropriate authorities.
The Assistant Undersecretary said MECC is focusing during the coming phase on building on what has been achieved, developing national capabilities, maintaining coordination and exchanging information, while monitoring the effectiveness of oversight measures and bringing them into line with the latest developments.
  Down the road, continued institutional coordination and updated procedures will remain important to sustaining the progress, he highlighted.
  Al Maslamani maintained that accomplishing the national plan doesn't suggest that the responsibility is over. Rather, it marks a transition to continued work within a sustainable institutional framework, as the State of Qatar continues to meet its obligations under the CITES Convention and strengthen cooperation with international partners to protect endangered species.
In a related context, Al Maslamani underscored that the State of Qatar's efforts aren't confined to combating illegal ivory trade. They also encompass regulating international trade in endangered wildlife species and their products through permits and oversight of import, export, transport and transit operations, as well as detecting violations and referring them to the competent authorities.
Al Maslamani reported that the Ministry is working to facilitate access to CITES permits through online services while scrupulously adhering to the regulations governing them. It has also established a specialized office at Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital to issue the relevant import and export permits. The objective, he outlined, is to facilitate legitimate and regulated transactions and prevent illegal trade that threatens the survival of wildlife species.
Addressing the challenges encountered in implementing the national plan, Al Maslamani said the foremost included the multiplicity of entities involved and the need to ensure that their roles were integrated, and that information continued to be exchanged among them. Other challenges included developing technical capabilities and documenting progress in a clear and measurable manner.
He added that continuous follow-up and coordination among the participating entities helped review what each had accomplished and identify the tasks that remained to be completed. 
The work also involved supporting training, awareness-raising and the exchange of expertise, helping combine efforts and turn the plan's requirements into interconnected actions that could be monitored and evaluated, Al Maslamani recalled.
  Al Maslamani suggested that the achievement reflects the State of Qatar's approach to wildlife protection as a shared national and international responsibility. He stressed that fulfilling international obligations requires practical measures and constant cooperation among the appropriate authorities.
He also noted that strengthening protection of transport and transit routes against exploitation for illegal trade supports international efforts to combat crimes that transcend national borders. 
The recognition accorded to the State of Qatar's efforts during the CITES Standing Committee meetings, he said, underscores the paramount importance of cooperation, information interchange and forging partnerships to achieve enduring results, into line with the environmental sustainability goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Al Maslamani expressed pride in this national accomplishment and gratitude to all participating entities and work teams whose efforts and commitment had been instrumental in achieving it. He emphasized that this success is a testament to cooperation and shared responsibility, as well as an incentive to continue working and building on what has been achieved.
As such, Al Maslamani called on community members, travelers and those involved in trading wildlife species and their products to scrupulously verify the legality of anything they purchase or transport and ensure that all required permits are obtained before traveling or shipping.
He stressed that wildlife protection begins with awareness and is strengthened through everyone's commitment. (QNA)