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The Fight to End Wildlife Crime Is a Fight for Humanity

Valerie Hickey's picture

Available in ไทย

Elephants in Kenya. Curt Carnemark/World Bank

Elephant ivory is on the march. Not elephants, but their ivory. The elephants are left bloodied and dead on the range. So are many rangers who work to protect a country’s natural capital. In the past 10 years, over 1,000 rangers have been murdered in 35 countries alone; the International Ranger Federation tell us that as many as 5,000 may have been murdered worldwide in that time.
 

At the CITES COP – the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species – the halls in Bangkok ring loud with concern for the elephants and other charismatic species, particularly rhinos, that are being exterminated across Africa in pursuit of private profit, at the expense of communities that rely on nature for their food, shelter, start-up capital, and safety net in a warming world.


So why should the World Bank care? Our concern is to build strong economies and healthy communities by revving the engine of inclusive green growth as we prepare countries and communities for the impacts of climate change.

What does this have to do with elephant ivory you ask? Simply put, we cannot achieve our dream of a world without poverty without taking account of the rise in wildlife crime.

Institutions and Systems Matter for Health and Social Development

Patricio V. Marquez's picture

This past week, I attended a couple of interesting seminars at the World Bank’s Human Development Forum on how some mineral-rich countries have been able to translate their newfound riches into sustained economic growth, improved living conditions, and  better nutrition, health and education levels for their populations.

Webinar Jan. 10: Urbanization Along the Waterfront

Parul Agarwala's picture

Riverfront as cultural center, IndiaHistorically, cities and civilizations have flourished along water bodies, which not only served as important transportation corridors to spur economic activity and trade, but also as prominent public spaces for religious and cultural interaction. Today, while a large number of cities have turned away from this important natural resource, many have reclaimed and transformed their waterfronts into thriving economic engines and nodes of social activity. Can cities redefine their relationship with water while managing challenges of rapid urbanization?

The World Bank’s South Asia Sustainable Development Unit, in collaboration with East Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Unit, is organizing a webinar on waterfront development to discuss different dimensions of waterfront initiatives and tools for a sustainable regenerative economic environment.

Prospects Daily: US consumer confidence falls; inflation moderated in Chile, Peru and Mexico but rose slightly in Brazil


Financial Markets…U.S. Treasuries slid for the first time in four days, with the benchmark note yields 3 basis points to 1.62%, as a government report showed U.S. employers added more than forecasted jobs in November. U.S government bonds have advanced 2.8% this year as of yesterday, after gaining 9.8% in 2011 and 5.9% in 2010.

The Eonia swap rate (an estimate of compounded overnight borrowing costs in euros over the next three months) fell to 4.5 basis points on Friday, the lowest level since July, as investors speculated the European Central Bank is open to cut interest rates further. And the 3-month euro interbank offered rate (or Euribor), bank-to-bank lending rate, fell at a record low of 0.187%.

The dollar strengthened against the yen and euro following encouraging U.S. jobs data, climbing 0.3% to 82.66 yen and 0.4% to $1.2913, respectively. Meanwhile, Canadian dollar rallied versus its U.S. counterpart, climbing 0.3% to 98.82 cents per U.S. dollar, as the country’s unemployment rate fell to 7.2% from 7.4% last month.

High-income Economies…U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 146,000 in November, suggesting that the impact of Hurricane Sandy on overall U.S. employment had been limited. But the rate remains well below the 200,000-250,000 monthly gains needed for a sustained improvement in the labor market as employers remain reluctant to hire amid U.S. “fiscal cliff” risks. The unemployment rate, however, edged down by 0.2 percentage points to a four-year low of 7.7%, mostly because of people dropping out of the labor force.

Reflecting uncertainties relating to impending tax increases and spending cuts, the outlook of U.S. consumers deteriorated sharply in December, with the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index falling to 74.5 in December, the lowest since August, from 82.7 in November.

German industrial production fell 2.6% (m/m) in October, a faster pace of decline compared with a 1.3% drop in September, suggesting that the Euro Area debt crisis is taking a toll on Europe’s largest economy. Earlier data had shown that industrial orders were supported by strengthening foreign demand (partly from developing countries), but domestic demand has continued to weaken.

U.K. industrial production fell 0.8% (m/m) in October, a slower pace of decline than the 2.1% monthly fall in September. On a year-on-year basis, industrial output was 3% (y/y) lower in October, compared with -3.2% (y/y) in September.

Revised data showed that Greek GDP shrank a slightly smaller 6.9% (y/y) in the third quarter, compared with a 7.2% decline reported earlier.

The pace of economic contraction in Czech Republic accelerated in the third quarter to an annualized pace of about 1.2% (q/q) from 0.8% recorded in the second quarter. On a year-on-year basis, Czech Republic’s GDP contracted by 1.3% (y/y) in the third quarter of 2012, compared with 1% (y/y) decline in the second quarter.

Hungary’s GDP continued to contract in the third quarter at an annualized pace of about 0.8% (q/q). On a year-on-year basis, Hungary’s GDP contracted by 1.5% (y/y) in the third quarter of 2012, compared with 1.2% (y/y) declined in the second quarter.

Developing Economies…The Central Bank of Egypt held its benchmark overnight deposit rate steady at 9.25%. Headline inflation rose to 6.7% in October from 6.22% in September on a sharp rise in the prices of butane gas cylinders, partly due to bottlenecks in distribution channels, despite moderating food prices.

Brazil’s inflation accelerated insignificantly in November to 5.53% (y/y) from 5.45% in October with the prices of all key components in consumer basket showing insignificant rise.

Chile’s inflation moderated to 2.1% (y/y) in November from 2.9% in October.

Mexico’s inflation moderated to 4.18% in November from 4.6% in October on easing of food prices following a temporary spike related to adverse weather and the outbreak of avian flu in western Mexico.

Peru's central bank held its policy rate unchanged at 4.25%. Peru's inflation rate slowed to 2.66% in November under the central bank’s 3% inflation target from 3.25% in October on moderating food prices.

Malaysia's exports fell 3.2% (y/y) in October from 2.6% increase in September  on continued weak demand from major trade partners and moderating prices for Malaysia's commodity exports (palm oil and crude rubber).

Malaysia: Fishermen, drug use and HIV coming full circle

Sutayut Osornprasop's picture

In Malaysia, over half of all HIV infections are transmitted through sharing contaminated needles and syringes. To combat the spread of the epidemic, the government in 2006 spearheaded 'harm reduction' interventions (pdf) which included a program where people who inject drugs are provided unused needles and syringes in exchange for used injecting equipment. Those who are addicted to opioids such as heroin, the most commonly used illicit substance in Malaysia, can also enroll in rehabilitation for synthetic opioid replacement therapy. Synthetic opioids, taken orally, help stabilize the opioid cravings of patients, thus enabling them to work. The move to introduce harm reduction in Malaysia revealed something that caught people by surprise—many of the fishermen from port city on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia use drugs.

Better Jobs Can Outweigh a Secure Life

Zahid Hussain's picture

People on a boat in BangladeshOn Nov. 7, 2012, a motorboat carrying 110 illegal immigrants heading for Malaysia capsized in the Bay of Bengal close to Bangladesh’s southeastern border with Myanmar. This tragedy came less than a fortnight after a boat with more than 135 passengers capsized in the same area. “Boat capsized with illegal immigrants from Bangladesh” is a recurring story, with Thailand, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries the destinations of illegal work seekers. What makes Bangladeshis resort to such extreme methods of migration?

Prospects Daily: Year-to-date global corporate bond sales rose to $3.43 trillion

Financial Markets…Year-to-date global corporate bond sales rose to $3.43 trillion, already surpassing 2011’s full year total of $3.29 trillion, as further stimulus from global central banks pushed yields to record lows. Funding costs for the riskiest to the most creditworthy corporates are plunging as the persistent low-yield environment spurred unprecedented investor demand.

Perceived default risk of US corporate debt climbed for a third consecutive day, with the benchmark Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index rising 3.6 basis points to 108 bps, amid growing concerns that the so-called US fiscal cliff could push the world largest economy into deep recession.

Ghana’s 3-month borrowing costs, which fell to a five month low last week, are gearing for further decline today after the central bank issued record volume of domestic bonds, lowering its financing needs in near-terms. The 3-month yield on Ghana’s Treasury bills dropped 69 bps to 22.33% last week, but they are still the highest among African countries.

In its November update released earlier today, the US Department of Agriculture reported marginal increases in global grain supplies (compared to the October update) for the 2012/13 crop year ending in May 2013. Yet, stock-to-use ratio for corn—and less so for wheat—remain at historical low levels. The rice market is well-supplied with trade expected to surpass 38 million tons in 2012—a record high.

High-income Economies…France's industrial production posted the biggest monthly drop since December 2009, falling 2.7% (m/m) in September (-2.1% y/y), with both manufacturing production and construction contracting. The Bank of France said the economy may shrink in the fourth quarter.

Italy’s industrial production fell by 1.5% (m/m) in September (-4.8% y/y), the most in five months, suggesting the country remained in recession in the third quarter.

Greece’s industrial production fell 7.3% (y/y) in September, resuming its downward trend after rising temporarily by 2.5% in August.

Sweden’s industrial production fell 5% (y/y) in September, following a 2.7% increase the previous month.

Germany’s annual consumer price inflation on a EU-harmonized basis remained at 2.1% (y/y) in October, the same rate as September (+0.1% m/m). A 5.5% (y/y) increase in domestic gas and diesel prices and increases in some food items prevented inflation from falling.

UK’s goods trade deficit fell to 8.4bn pounds in September from 10bn pounds in August, as exports rose 1.1% (m/m), while imports fell a larger 3.9% (m/m) because of lower imports of fuel and manufactured goods.

US consumer confidence continued to improve for the fourth month in November, with the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index climbing to 84.9 (a five-year high) from 82.6 in October as the labor market showed signs of improvement.

Hungary’s industrial output rose 0.6% (m/m) in September, following 1.8% increase in August. Despite the monthly increases, industrial output in September was 3.8% lower than the same month the previous year.

Developing Economies…China’s retail sales rose 14.5% (y/y) in October slightly faster than 14.2% in September, while consumer price inflation dropped to its weakest level in nearly three years to 1.7% (y/y) in October from 1.9% in September on declining food inflation.

Growth in China's industrial production accelerated to 9.6% (y/y) in October from 9.2% in September China’s producer prices fell at a slower pace of 2.8% (y/y) in October compared to a 3.6% fall in September. China's total fixed asset investments were 20.7% higher during the January-October period compared to the same period last year.

Malaysia's exports grew 2.6% (y/y) in September, recovering from a 4.5% contraction in August on strong demand from ASEAN, the US, India and Taiwan, while exports to the European Union decreased 12.5%. Import growth accelerated to 9.6% (y/y) in September from 2.8% in August.

The central bank of Peru held its benchmark interest steady at 4.25%. Peru's inflation rate fell to 3.25% (y/y) in October from 3.74% in September, but remains above the central bank's targets inflation of 2.0% (+/- 1). An acceleration of inflation in September was related to a weather conditions-related temporary supply side factor.

Russia's central bank held its benchmark refinancing rate steady in October. Inflation declined in October slightly to 6.5% (y/y) from 6.6% in September, but remains above the Bank of Russia's target of 5-6 percent inflation range. The bank noted that inflation is stabilizing due to a moderation in food prices which had experienced a temporary upswing related to a supply shock associated with a bad harvest.

Prospects Daily: US treasuries gained and the benchmark 10-year bond yield edged down

Financial Markets…US treasuries gained and the benchmark 10-year bond yield edged down 1 basis point to 1.66%, after rising as high as 1.7% earlier, while the 30-year bond yield slid by 2 bps to 2.83% in early Friday session after a government report on wholesale price in September showed domestic inflation remained muted.

The euro advanced 0.3% to $1.297 after dropping to a 10-day low of $1.283 yesterday, and it gained 0.4% to 101.7 yen amid speculation that a downgrade of Spain’s sovereign rating would put pressure on the government to finally request a sovereign bailout.

Spanish government bonds rose and 10-year Spanish bond yields fell 9 basis points to 5.67%, gearing for the lowest level in nearly a month, on the prospect of European Central Bank intervention to support its debt.

High-income Economies…Euro Area industrial production rose 0.6% (m/m) in August, the same pace as that recorded in July, with increases in France (+1.5% m/m), Italy (+1.7%), Spain (+1.3%), and Greece (+2.5%) offsetting a 0.4% fall in Germany, Eurozone’s largest economy. Despite the monthly increase, Euro Area industrial output was 2.9% lower in August compared to the same month in 2011.

 The US Thomson Reuters-University of Michigan consumer sentiment index rose to 83.1 in October, the highest in five years, from 78.3 in September as consumers’ optimism about the overall economy improved.

US producer prices rose 1.1% (m/m) in September following a 1.7% rise in August, mainly due to an increase in gasoline prices. On a year-on-year basis, however, overall PPI inflation edged up to 2.1% from 2.0% in August. Core PPI which excludes food and energy remained flat compared to the previous month.

France’s current account deficit widened to 4bn euros in August from 2.6bn euros in July, as the trade deficit rose with an increase in energy-led imports offsetting an improved exports performance.

The Netherlands’ trade surplus narrowed to 2.2bn euros in August from 2.95bn euros in July, as imports rose +2.2% (m/m) from robust domestic demand, while exports fell 0.5%.

Singapore's GDP growth slowed to 1.3% (y/y) in the third quarter from 2.3% recorded in the second quarter, pulled down by a 1.5% (q/q) contraction driven by a decline in the manufacturing sector’s electronics cluster due to weak external demand.

Slovakia’s consumer price inflation eased to 3.6% (y/y) in September from 3.7% in August led by a slower pace of increase in utility prices.

Developing Economies…Bulgaria's consumer price inflation accelerated to 4.9% (y/y) in September from 3.9% in August, partly due to a sharp increase in food and fuel prices. Prices continue to advance rapidly in the second half of 2012 following an earlier period of decline.

India’s industrial production increased 2.7% (y/y) in August following a 0.2% contraction in July, led by a 5% growth of consumer goods production. India’s consumer price inflation eased to 9.7% (y/y) in September from 10.0% in August driven by a small decline in food inflation.

Malaysia's industrial production declined 0.7% (y/y) in August following a 2.9% increase in July, as manufacturing sector continued to struggle in the face of weak external demand.

Mexico’s industrial output growth slowed to 3.6% in August from 4.9% (y/y) in July, pulled down by a 0.8% (m/m) contraction in August, mirroring industrial developments in the United States.

The central banks of Indonesia, Peru and Singapore held their respective policy rates unchanged this week.

Prospects Daily: European sovereign credit risk rises to eight-week high

Important developments today:

1. European sovereign credit risk rises to eight-week high following Greek debt swap insurance payouts

2. Italy in recession

Prospects Daily: Eurozone growth projected to slowdown sharply in 2012

Important developments today:

1. Eurozone growth projected to slowdown sharply in 2012

Eurozone growth projected to slowdown sharply in 2012. Battered by the spreading sovereign-debt crisis in member states, waning consumer and business confidence which could impinge on durable and investment goods spending, ongoing fiscal austerity, and a slowdown in global trade, the recently released European Commission Autumn economic forecasts points to a significant slowdown in GDP growth in the EU. Annual GDP growth in 2012 for the 17-bloc Eurozone is projected at 0.5%; and 0.6% for the 27-member EU.  Though picking-up in 2013, growth is still expected to remain lack-lustre, rebounding to 1.3% and 1.5% for the Eurozone and EU respectively. The risks to the forecasts are noted to be tilted to the downside with the possibility of further negative dynamics of slower growth affecting sovereign debtors, which could in turn deteriorate bank balance sheets, thereby reducing their ability to support growth and thus leading to a recession.

Among Emerging Markets

In East Asia and the Pacific, Malaysia’s central bank kept the key interest rate unchanged at 3% at the latest monetary policy meeting. Despite pressures on domestic consumer prices from food shortages after recent floods, the bank announced plans to maintain the current interest rate in view of external economic slowdowns.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey’s industrial production grew 6.9% in September, gaining 12% on the year, beating all market forecasts as broad based expansion in manufacturing (12.8%), utilities (9.9%) and mining (2.2%) boosted the headline figure. The pace of growth in industrial output is the highest since February, underscoring the fast momentum of growth in the economy.

In South Asia, India’s industrial output growth slowed sharply to 1.9% in September, a two-year low, as the central bank’s string of interest rate hikes took effect on the economy. While manufacturing production grew modestly by 2.1%, output of key capital equipment and consumer goods shrank, raising concerns that the overall pace of growth may slow. The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates 13 times since March 2010 to control inflation, which remained high at 9.72% in the last reading, and signaled that it may pause interest rate tightening after last month’s 25 basis point increase.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia’s annual inflation was recorded at 39.8% in October, easing slightly from 40.1% recorded in September. Month-on-month inflation has been slowing in the country, at 1.9% in October from 2.6% in September, however a poor agricultural year and surging food costs are likely to keep inflationary pressures a concern this year.

Prospects Daily: Moody's downgrades 21 European commercial banks -- heating up the financial crisis

Important developments today:

1. Moody’s downgrades 12 U.K. banks and 9 Portuguese institutions

2. U.S. employment growth in September bests economists’ estimates

3. German output falls less-than-expected after July’s surge; but orders slow

 

Weekly Wire: the Global Forum

Johanna Martinsson's picture

These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.

Africa Can...End Poverty
Two ways of overcoming government failure

"Everyone seems to agree that most, if not all, policy problems have their roots in politics. That is why you often hear that a particular policy will not be implemented because there is no “political will.”  Seemingly anti-poor policies and outcomes—untargeted and costly fertilizer vouchers in Tanzania, 99 percent leakage of public health funds in Chad, 20 percent teacher absenteeism in Uganda, 25 percent unemployment in South Africa—persist.  Yet these are countries where the median voter is poor.  A majority doesn’t vote in favor of policies that will benefit the majority.  Why?" READ MORE

Brookings
The Struggle for Middle East Democracy
Shadi Hamid

"It always seemed as if Arab countries were ‘on the brink.’ It turns out that they were. And those who assured us that Arab autocracies would last for decades, if not longer, were wrong. In the wake of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, academics, analysts and certainly Western policymakers must reassess their understanding of a region entering its democratic moment. What has happened since January disproves longstanding assumptions about how democracies can—and should—emerge in the Arab world. Even the neoconservatives, who seemed passionately attached to the notion of democratic revolution, told us this would be a generational struggle. Arabs were asked to be patient, and to wait. In order to move toward democracy, they would first have to build a secular middle class, reach a certain level of economic growth, and, somehow, foster a democratic culture. It was never quite explained how a democratic culture could emerge under dictatorship." READ MORE

Whither Malaysia’s brain drain?

Philip Schellekens's picture

Brain drain—the migration of talent across borders—has an impact on Malaysia’s aspiration to become a high-income nation. Human capital is the bedrock of the high-income economy. Sustained and skill-intensive growth will require talent going forward. For Malaysia to be successful in its journey to high income, it will need to develop, attract and retain talent. Brain drain does not appear to square with this objective: Malaysia needs talent, but talent seems to be leaving.

Come to this Malaysian province to see an alternative path on energy

Daniel Kammen's picture

 

   Photo courtesy Willem V.
   Strien/Flickr under Creative
   Commons License

It is all too easy to see environmental protection and economic development simply as competing philosophies, and nothing more. A range of studies attest to the fact that this is a false dichotomy. In my earlier blog, I described the alternative vision that became a reality in a small Nicaraguan coastal community that chose to invest in a diverse set of clean energy alternatives.  Even with cases like this one described in the literature, there remains in some circles a sense that these must be concocted.

 

The headlines often reinforce this simple dichotomy of environment versus economic growth, where the choice presented is “preserve a forest and forego the lumber”, “save a river and deny a community hydropower”, or “find the financing for more expensive solar power or accept ill-health and global warming from coal.” I have been convinced that another path or paths exist, ever since reading a remarkable paper on the `valuation’ of a tropical rain forest (Peters, Gentry and Mendelsohn, `Valuation of an Amazonian Rainforest', Nature). This short paper got me thinking about how we ignore the longer-term economic wins of sustainability for short-term profit.

 

I recently had the wonderful fortune to get involved in a case that reinforced the fact that options always exist, if we work together to find them.

 

Early in 2010, a consortium of citizens from Sabah, Malaysia came to my laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, convinced that unexplored options must exist to provide the energy needed for this Malaysian Province without placing a 300 MW coal fired power plant on the edge of the ‘coral triangle’ off the coast of North Borneo. This plant was planned at a site only 20 kilometers from the last remaining reserve for the critically endangered Sumatran Rhino of Borneo (of which there may be only 30 individuals or so remaining). This plan would have required the weekly import of coal from South Borneo (Kalimantan). Just a few years ago, the coal plant seemed inevitable.


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