Avianca and WCS team up to fight wildlife trafficking

Avianca and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have made significant progress in their joint fight against wildlife trafficking and for the conservation of biodiversity since their June 2023 agreement.

This agreement supports Avianca's implementation of international commitments to prevent wildlife trafficking, such as the 2016 Buckingham Palace Declaration.

In commemoration of World Environment Day, Avianca and WCS announced the expansion of their alliance in Colombia to include Ecuador.

The occasion was marked by a new commemorative design on one of the airline's planes with the message: “Together for Biodiversity.”

The threat to biodiversity

Wildlife trafficking poses a major threat to global biodiversity, particularly in biodiversity-rich countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.

These vast regions, with difficult-to-police areas, become prime targets for illegal wildlife extraction and transportation.

This trafficking threatens iconic species such as jaguars, tortoises, freshwater turtles, amphibians and macaws.

Official data on wildlife confiscations in these countries from 2010 to 2018 paints a grim picture.

It shows there were almost 60,000 confiscations involving more than 900 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

Even more alarming, more than 28,000 live animals were confiscated at major airports during the same period.

Take action: “Together for Conservation” project

Avianca is not sitting idly by. Through the Together for Conservation project, Avianca revised its internal policies in Colombia to improve the detection and reporting of wildlife trafficking.

The project is a collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and WCS,

Staff have received comprehensive training on the company's anti-trafficking policies and how to identify and prevent this crime.

Additionally, WCS and Avianca have launched communications initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation.

Success and expansion: “United for biodiversity”

This successful partnership led Avianca and WCS to extend their alliance to Ecuador in celebration of World Environment Day.

A special commemorative design featuring the message “United for Biodiversity” now adorns one of Avianca's aircraft, symbolizing their commitment to protecting Latin American species and ecosystems.

This aircraft was presented at the launch of Avianca's 2023 sustainability report.

For José Luis Gómez, regional director of WCScollaboration with the private sector is crucial to achieve tangible results and amplify their wildlife protection efforts.

He emphasizes: “Our alliance with Avianca is a crucial step in the fight against the destructive trafficking that is ravaging Latin America's wildlife populations. »

Shared commitment to wildlife protection

Felipe Andrés Gómez Vivas, Director of Institutional Relations and Sustainable Development of Avianca, explains the objectives. “We want to expand our commitment to wildlife conservation across the Americas,” he says.

“Our partnership with WCS allowed us to train around twenty employees in the protection of wildlife, thus raising awareness among our public of the importance of biodiversity. »

Dino Delgado, USAID/Amazon Regional Environmental Governance Team Leaderadded an additional explanation.

“Working with strategic private sector partners, we aim to dismantle the systems that enable the supply, transport and demand of illegal and unsustainable goods and services from the Amazon. »

“USAID works to create a healthy and resilient Amazon Basin that is valued by society, ensures human well-being, and preserves our global climate. »

Through this continued alliance, WCS will work with Avianca to further strengthen internal procedures for detecting potential wildlife trafficking. He will train Avianca's regional operations teams in the prevention and treatment of this crime.

Wildlife Conservation Society

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild spaces around the world through science, conservation, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

To achieve its mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its global conservation program. It is active in nearly 60 countries and in all the world's oceans, as well as in its five wildlife parks in New York, visited by 4 million people each year.

WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos and aquariums to achieve its conservation mission.

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