University News
Illegal Wildlife Trade Topic of April 23 Lecture
April 17, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, illegal wildlife trade has long been recognized as a threat to species worldwide. Trade and trafficking have played a major role in pushing such species as elephants, tigers, rhinos and sea turtles to the brink of extinction. A former Macomb resident will be on the Western Illinois University campus Wednesday, April 23 to discuss the environmental impact of illegal wildlife trade.
Pervaze Sheikh, a natural resources policy analyst in Congressional Research Services for the Library of Congress and a 1987 Macomb High School graduate, will present "The Illegal Wildlife Trade: Threats to the Environment and National Security - A Perspective from Congress" at 7 p.m. in the University Union Grand Ballroom. He will share knowledge and experience of the threats posed by illicit trade of wildlife, as well as other environmental issues. Sheikh's lecture is open free to the public.
Sheikh is the legislative and policy expert for issues such as international conservation, threatened and endangered species and climate change impact on biodiversity. He has published more than
30 reports and 300 memoranda for members of Congress on issues related to natural resources and environmental policy.
Last spring, the Associated Press reported that a poacher can earn $180 for the tusks of a forest elephant and $6,000 for its meat in an area where the average legally earned income is $1 a day. Despite years of public outreach to discourage the consumption of protected species, demand persists and black markets flourish. The impact of such demand has been exacerbated by the globalization of the world economy. The ease of travel, transport and transaction that characterizes the global marketplace has bolstered illegal wildlife trade, facilitating its conduct and foiling its detection.
"Dr. Sheikh's presentation will provide a unique perspective on the environmental impact of illegal wildlife trade," noted Murali Venugopalan, assistant director of the Center for International Studies.
"Given our Universitywide theme is environmental sustainability, this is a topic that more people should be aware. Our actions -- both direct and indirect -- can have an impact on this trade, which is threatening our environment."
For more information, contact the Center for International Studies at 309/298-2485 or
CIS-Activities@wiu.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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