Air Serbia joins fight against illegal wildlife trafficking

Air Serbia, the national airline of the Republic of Serbia, has signed up to the Buckingham Palace Declaration along with four Etihad Airways equity partners, making a commitment to fight illegal wildlife trafficking and protect many of the world’s iconic wildlife species.

The Declaration of the United for Wildlife International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products was signed at the IATA Annual General Meeting currently being held in Dublin.

Air Serbia, Alitalia, airberlin, Air Seychelles and Virgin Australia signed the Declaration following the lead of Etihad Airways which became a signatory in March this year.

United for Wildlife is an unprecedented alliance between seven of the world’s most influential conservation organisations, led by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The initiative aims to address current conservation issues with an initial focus on supporting efforts to prevent the growing trade in illegal wildlife and products around the world.

The Transport Taskforce, launched at the World Bank in December 2014, has identified specific actions that the transport industry can take in supporting what HRH the Duke of Cambridge refers to as ‘the race against extinction’.

Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia, said: “We are losing species at a shocking rate and it is even predicted that up to 50 percent of all wildlife may be threatened with extinction by the middle of the 21st century. Air Serbia is proud to play a role in protecting the biodiversity of our planet by taking steps to prevent the hugely harmful illegal wildlife trade.”

Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said: “Having six of the Etihad equity partners as signatories ensures a more extensive and impactful result over 348 destinations. Led by our Head of Sustainability we are developing a group wide action plan to help prevent this abhorrent practice.”

The Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond, Chair of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce welcomed the commitment of Etihad Airways and its partner airlines saying: "Combating the Illegal wildlife trade through all modes of transport is essential to tackling the problem. I commend Etihad Airways and its partner airlines for signing this declaration and taking an active step in supporting this initiative."

The Declaration includes eleven commitments developed to support global efforts to prevent illegal wildlife smuggling, which encourage the transport industry to specifically help shut down the routes exploited by wildlife traffickers.

Airlines are able to support in a number of ways including increasing passenger awareness, providing capacity building at airports and working closely to support the efforts of customs and law enforcement authorities

Pictured from left to right (front row, seated) are Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, and Stefan Pichler, Chief Executive Officer of airberlin and left to right, top row, are Cramer Ball, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia, Tony Tyler, Director General IATA, Jane McKeon, Group Executive Government Relations Virgin Australia, Roy Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, and Naomi Doak, United for Wildlife representative, at Ballsbridge, Dublin after the five Etihad Airways equity partners - Alitalia, airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles and Virgin Australia - signed the Declaration of the United for Wildlife International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products at the 2016 IATA Annual General Meeting.