The use of wild species directly contributes to the daily well-being of billions of people, and around 50,000 wild species worldwide are used for food, energy, medicine, materials and other purposes through fishing, gathering, logging and harvesting of land animals (IPBES, 2022). To reverse global biodiversity decline, it is essential to address the causes of unsustainable use and promote and ensure the sustainable use of wild species.

Overexploitation has been identified as the main threat to wild species in marine ecosystems and the second for species in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Unsustainable fishing is the main cause of the increase in the risk of extinction of sharks and rays over the past 50 years. For terrestrial species, unsustainable logging, hunting, gathering and harvesting contribute significantly to the unsustainable use of trees, plants, mushrooms, wild birds, etc. Achieving this objective is closely linked to objective 4 of this strategy.

The global wildlife trade is one of the main drivers of increasing use. If not effectively regulated, such trade can become a driver of unsustainable use (IPBES, 2022). Belgium is also involved in the trade of wildlife species and animal products, amphibians and carvings based on hippopotamus ivory, which has a negative impact on global biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to control and regulate the harvesting, consumption and trade of wild species and. Moreover, Belgium has a role to play and a responsibility in allowing the export of native species to other countries and continents. There has also been an increase in trade in CITES-listed specimens of non-wild origin. This trade is also controlled and regulated by CITES. CITES is implemented through European regulations implemented in Belgium, which provide a basis for controlling trade in CITES-listed species. There are three pillars for the implementation of CITES in Belgium: the Belgian CITES Management Authority, the CITES Scientific Authority (responsible for all scientific advice) and the CITES Enforcement Authorities (responsible for all CITES-related controls).

EU legislative instruments help address the challenge of wildlife trade; the EU Timber Regulation and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulation have been integrated and enhanced by the EU Deforestation Regulation. It aims to prevent timber products and a range of agricultural products that have been illegally produced and contributed to deforestation and forest degradation from entering the EU market and being exported from the EU, whether from the EU or elsewhere in the world, by introducing a due diligence system for operators and traders.

EU nature directives ban the sale and transport of a number of strictly protected wild species in the EU. Illegal logging and associated trade not only threaten biodiversity in timber-producing countries (through overexploitation, depletion of scarce natural resources, destruction of ecosystems, etc.), but also have serious economic and social consequences (loss of revenue for local governments, corruption, impoverishment of rural communities dependent on forest products, etc.). With regard to CITES timber, Belgium and the EU have always had an interest in working closely with countries of origin to ensure that CITES permits are only issued when it has been clearly established that there is no harm and when the legality and sustainability of the tropical timber has been demonstrated. Where large quantities of CITES timber are confiscated and, where possible, subsequently sold publicly, the proceeds should be invested in local projects to improve the sustainable use of forests. Timber not covered by CITES should be subject to strict due diligence by operators under the EU regulation against deforestation and forest degradation and monitored by competent authorities.

In addition, as announced in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the European Commission adopted a revised action plan against wildlife trade in 2022. This five-year action plan focuses on four priorities: prevention, enforcement, strengthening global partnerships and strengthening the EU legal framework.

It is essential to apply and implement CITES and EU regulations at the national level by strengthening cooperation and knowledge sharing between all players in the enforcement chain (federal government, customs, environmental crime unit, federal police centres of expertise, prosecutors). In addition, a comprehensive inter-ministerial environmental conference is currently studying a national action plan to combat wildlife and wildlife meat trafficking. This plan is awaiting approval. Strengthening financial and human capacities, both at the national level and in cooperation with consumer, transit and source countries, would also be crucial for effective implementation.