Source: ACI-LAC

Brasilia International Airport, operated by Inframerica, a member of the Airports Council International for Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), has signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration against illegal wildlife trafficking. The United for Wildlife campaign is part of the task force created in 2014 by Prince William with the aim of involving the transportation sector in the fight against wildlife trafficking. The task force brought together airports, shipping companies, airlines and government agencies to identify and facilitate private sector-led actions.

Brasilia International Airport, is the first airport in Brazil and the second in Latin America to sign the Buckingham Palace Declaration. The first signing airport in the region was Galápagos Ecological Airport in Ecuador, operated by Corporacion America Airports, also the holding company of the Brazilian terminal.

More than 40 companies and organizations that sign the document commit to combat international wildlife trafficking by identifying suspected illegal traders, sharing information and developing harmonized mechanisms of action, among other measures.

“ACI supports a zero-tolerance policy on the illegal wildlife trade and I welcome the commitment of Brasilia International Airport, one of our ACI Wildlife Trafficking Prevention Taskforce members, signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration and joining the fight. Wildlife trafficking has become a multi-million-dollar illicit business and, as international connectivity begins to recover in the shadow of the pandemic, poachers are looking to abuse the air transport system to move illegal wildlife goods. Airports like Brasilia International Airport are central to stamping out this trade and we will continue to work together with our partners to continue the fight.” said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director-General of ACI World.

In June, the Airports Council International (ACI) published guidelines for its members to combat the global illegal trade in protected wildlife and plant species.

ACI’s Combating Wildlife Trafficking Handbook was developed with support from the USAID ROUTES (Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport Endangered Species) Partnership to help airports address this global crime.

You can download the Combating Wildlife Trafficking Handbook by clicking here.