Sec. Kerry Meets With Anti-Poaching and Anti-Wildlife Trafficking IVLP Participants

State Department Photo
Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
May 6, 2014

Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to combat wildlife trafficking, Secretary Kerry met today with conservationists and law enforcement officials from 12 African nations visiting the United States as part of the Wildlife Conservation: Anti-Poaching and Anti-Trafficking International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Program participants also took part in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of State representatives to examine cooperative efforts in the global campaign to combat wildlife trafficking.

This project is the second in a series that reinforces President Obama’s commitment to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking as articulated in the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking. The State Department, along with the Departments of Interior and Justice, co-chairs the President’s Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking and leads efforts to strengthen international cooperation, reduce global demand for illegally traded wildlife products, and build global law enforcement capacity.

During their three weeks in the United States, the participants will also visit Miami, Florida; Bozeman, Montana; and Ashland and Portland, Oregon. They will meet with wildlife officials and nongovernmental organization leaders in places like Yellowstone National Park, Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.