Success: Wildlife Crime Police Unit Receives Funding

Target: Rory Stewart, Minister of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Goal: Thank the U.K. government for providing four years of funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

The U.K.’s national wildlife crime unit just received funding from the government that will keep it from closing. This specialized police unit focuses on stopping wildlife crimes such as poaching, killing birds of prey, illegal smuggling of endangered species, and animal cruelty.

The unit’s efforts provide invaluable protection for vulnerable species, but until this week it was facing closure due to a lack of government funding. This closure would have been a devastating blow for wildlife conservation both in the U.K. and on a broader level, as the National Wildlife Crime Unit often helps other countries with their own conservation efforts.

Now, after numerous protests and petitions directed at the U.K. government, including one published on ForceChange, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Home Office ministers have agreed to provide funding for four years to the National Wildlife Crime Unit. The funding will give the unit financial stability that will support its important work until at least 2020, meaning that it can continue efforts to protect wildlife without the impending fear of being closed down. It has also received funding to specifically focus on online wildlife crime, a rapidly growing problem as illegal animal traders take to the Internet to buy and sell endangered animals and animal products.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit’s victory in receiving funding is a victory for all wildlife conservation, as it demonstrates that governments can be persuaded to support these important issues. Sign the petition below to thank the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Home Office ministers for providing the funding that will keep this essential wildlife crime unit operating and for supporting the fight against wildlife crime.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Stewart,

Thank you for providing four years of funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This specialized police unit does essential work in tackling wildlife crimes such as poaching, killing birds of prey, illegal trading of endangered species, and animal cruelty. Had it been forced to shut down due to a lack of funding, it would have been a devastating blow to conservation efforts both in the U.K. and abroad, as the NWCU often helps other countries with their own wildlife conservation.

Thanks to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Home Office ministers who have agreed to provide funding, this valuable wildlife crime unit can continue its efforts to protect vulnerable species and put an end to animal cruelty. The extra funding provided to fight online wildlife crime is especially valuable, as the illegal trading of endangered animals and animal products on the Internet is a rapidly growing problem.

We, the undersigned, applaud you for your decision to continue funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit and urge you to continue taking steps to protect endangered species and fight wildlife crime.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: nwcu.police.uk