Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Marcia Bernicat will travel to Lima, Peru, October 3-4, to participate in the First High-Level Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in the Americas.
On October 3, Ambassador Bernicat will promote regional cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking and strengthen the South American Wildlife Enforcement Network at a U.S. side event to showcase the Department of State's initiatives and key partnerships. In addition, Ambassador Bernicat will advance U.S. priorities through bilateral meetings with representatives of other governments in the region and international organizations.
The United States is a leader in the global fight against wildlife trafficking, a serious transnational crime that threatens security, undermines the rule of law, fuels corruption, robs communities of legitimate economic livelihoods, and pushes species to the brink of extinction. In February 2017, President Trump’s Executive Order 13773 specifically recognized wildlife trafficking as one of four priority areas in efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.
For more on the State Department’s efforts to stop wildlife trafficking, visit the webpage for the Office of Conservation and Water. For updates on Ambassador Bernicat’s trip, follow @SciDiplomacyUSA on Twitter. For press inquiries, contact OES-PA-DG@state.gov.