oneworld said Oct. 16 that 15 member airlines had signed a declaration to curb illegal wildlife trafficking through commercial transport networks, a pledge intended to help protect endangered species and global ecosystems.
At an IATA event in Brussels, Samer Majali, Royal Jordanian’s president and CEO, signed the declaration, oneworld said. oneworld said his signature completed unanimous support among its members. The alliance also described itself as the first airline alliance to gain unanimous member support for the declaration.
The declaration lists 11 actions for signatories. They include adopting or encouraging zero-tolerance policies on illegal wildlife trade, improving methods to identify suspected shipments, training employees to detect and report trafficking, and sharing information. Signatories are asked to alert customs and law enforcement about suspected cargo and, where able, refuse to accept or ship cargo they suspect contains illegal wildlife products. The declaration calls for regular assessments of the commitments, but sets no next review date.
United for Wildlife says trafficking groups exploit commercial transport networks to move wildlife goods internationally. It describes its Transport Taskforce as a network connecting transport and freight companies with law enforcement and other agencies. The organization dates the declaration to 2016, when the taskforce’s founding participants signed it.
oneworld said its network reaches nearly 1,000 destinations and that the pledge will support work with governments, customs authorities and conservation groups. The alliance named endangered species and global ecosystems as intended beneficiaries.
The alliance’s Oct. 16 announcement counts 15 member airlines and groups Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in one entry. In an Apr. 23 announcement, oneworld called Hawaiian its newest member and listed 16 airlines; that roster named both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines as members and described both as Alaska Air Group subsidiaries. oneworld has not explained its October count.
