WCC 2020 Res 092 - Activity Report

On June 20, 2023, the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation launched the "Bat Conservation Action Network" (BCAN), aiming to reduce factors threatening bat survival and enhance bat conservation awareness, and to promote sustainability in traditional medicine.

On May 18, 2022, the World Animal Protection and Health News held an online seminar called "Building a Wildlife-Friendly Future for Medicine" on the eve of International Day for Biological Diversity. Experts, scholars, and pharmaceutical representatives discussed advancing wildlife-friendly medicine and promoting sustainable development in traditional medicine.

In Vietnam, traditional medicines containing rhino horn, pangolin scales, and tiger bone pose a threat to biodiversity. In March 2023, USAID's Saving Threatened Wildlife project partnered with Vietnam's Ministry of Health to organize an exhibition. The event aimed to endorse lawful, secure, and sustainable plant-based alternatives. The exhibition drew numerous attendees, including traditional medicine practitioners, who learned about plant benefits in medicine. This effort educates practitioners and the public, reducing the demand for wildlife products and thereby supporting biodiversity conservation and environmental protection in Vietnam.

In June 2023, the Li County Market Supervision Bureau in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, took steps to enhance awareness and regulation of using wildlife in medicine:
1. Online Dissemination of Laws: They used their official WeChat account to educate about the revised "Wildlife Protection Law," explaining its revision date, implementation date, and key sections related to wildlife use in medicine.
2. Offline Symposium: A symposium was organized where over 50 local pharmaceutical leaders learned about the full text of the revised law. The focus was on the revision's context, guiding principles, and main content.
3. Regulatory Emphasis: Pharmaceutical enterprises were instructed to strictly adhere to inspection and acceptance systems when purchasing medicines containing wildlife ingredients. Special attention was placed on verifying the "Special Identification for the Management and Utilization of Chinese Wildlife" on packaging.
4. Future Measures: The bureau plans to intensify inspections on pharmaceutical enterprises and medical institutions, aiming to curb illegal wildlife-related practices in the medicine sector.

Conviction of top African Pangolins Traffickers
Despite the absence of proven medicinal benefits, pangolin scales find their way into traditional medicine for addressing conditions ranging from lactation difficulties to arthritis. This demand has fueled rampant poaching, causing a severe decline in pangolin populations across Asia. Nevertheless, more stringent investigations have sparked a glimmer of hope.
Recently, the leaders of a global wildlife trafficking gang have been convicted after a four-year investigation and a trial in Nigeria in August 2023. They pleaded guilty last month to smuggling the scales of endangered African pangolins. These "top-of-the-pyramid" traffickers were responsible for half the illegal trade in pangolin scales. Phan Chi (Big Mac), Phan Quan (Benz) and Duong Thang (Fries) were charged with smuggling and trading in pangolin scales and elephant ivory. Morybinet Berete's brother Mory also pleaded guilty. Other trials will follow.
In other news, Thai authorities said Thursday they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over 50 million baht ($1.4 million) that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border. The amount of scales is estimated to come from at least 3,000-4,000 dead pangolin.

In March 2023, during China's National People's Congress, representative Zhang Boli proposed supporting alternatives for endangered medicinal materials to promote both conservation and development.

On May 20, 2023, coinciding with "International Day for Biological Diversity," the World Animal Protection and Health News jointly launched the "Wildlife-Friendly Medicine Initiative." It urges traditional medicine stakeholders to embrace eco-friendly practices.

On July 31, 2023, Wumao Township's government issued a "Food and Drug Safety Responsibility Pledge," emphasizing the prohibition of trading prohibited wildlife and products, aligning with conservation efforts.

On June 30, 2023, a symposium was held by the State Administration for Market Regulation, announcing the formation of an expert group to study regulations and technical requirements for alternative products of rare and endangered traditional Chinese medicinal materials. This initiative aims to balance the conservation of these materials with drug safety and approval. Similar discussions were held earlier, exploring scientific approaches to approving substitutes for endangered medicinal materials.

Effective from July 1, 2023, the "Special Provisions for the Registration and Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine" prioritizes the expedited evaluation and approval of artificial substitutes for endangered traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

In August 2022, TRAFFIC released an information booklet summarizing survey data from traditional medicine practitioners and patients. The booklet offers guidance and recommendations to curb the prescription and consumption of wildlife products in traditional medicine practices in Vietnam.