London Roundtable Tackles the Illegal Bushmeat Trade
London, 3 December 2024 — Yesterday, a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) convened at The Royal Over-Seas League in London. The event brought together policymakers, academics, and conservationists to address the critical issue of the illegal bushmeat trade, exploring its challenges and potential solutions in relation to sustainable use and public health.
The discussion was attended and chaired by Barry Gardiner MP, Chair of the International Conservation All-Party Parliamentary Group, and Baron Gascoigne, representing the House of Lords. Their participation highlighted the growing recognition within both Houses of Parliament of the urgent need to combat the illegal bushmeat trade.
Notable contributors included Noelle Kumpel (BirdLife International), Dr. Daniel Ingram (University of Kent), Dr. Hani El Bizri (CIFOR), and representatives from Jamma International, Flora & Fauna International as well as the Zoological Society of London. Discussions explored the international flow of illegal bushmeat imports, current gaps in UK enforcement, and the intersection of illegal trade with sustainable use principles.
Tristan Breijer of the CIC remarked, “The illegal bushmeat trade threatens biodiversity and public health on a global scale. This roundtable marks a renewed commitment to tackling this issue through collaborative efforts and informed policymaking.”
Participants also revisited the work of the UK Bushmeat Working Group (2006–2016), which included input from Defra and the UK Border Agency. Discussions underlined the need to build on this historical foundation, calling for the British government to strengthen enforcement measures and raise public awareness of the illegal bushmeat trade.
This event served as a call to action for greater collaboration between policymakers, academics, and conservationists to address this multifaceted challenge effectively.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Senior Communications and Public Affairs Advisor
tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
