,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ia ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bh1 #bjai,mr4 ,coons 7for himself and ,mr4 ,portman7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,,resolution ,designating ,march #c1 #bjai1 as ,world ,wildlife ,day4 ,whereas wildlife has provided numerous economic1 environmental1 social1 and cultural benefits during the course of human history and wildlife conservation will secure those gifts for future generations2 ,whereas plant and animal species play an important role in the stability of diverse ecosystems around the world and the conservation of that biodiversity is critical to maintain the delicate balance of nature and keep complex ecosystems thriving2 ,whereas millions of individuals in the ,united ,states strongly support the conservation of wildlife1 both domestically and abroad1 and wish to ensure the survival of species in the wild2 ,whereas the trafficking of wildlife1 including timber and fish1 comprises the fourth largest global illegal trade after narcotics1 the counterfeiting of products and currency1 and human trafficking and has become a major transnational organized crime with an estimated worth of as much as #bc1jjj1jjj1jjj annually2 ,whereas increased demand in ,asia for high-value illegal wildlife products1 particularly elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns1 has triggered substantial and rapid increases in poaching of those species2 ,whereas the trafficking of wildlife is a primary threat to many wildlife species1 including elephants1 rhinoceroses1 tigers1 pangolins1 and sharks2 ,whereas many different kinds of criminals1 including some terrorist entities and rogue security personnel1 often in collusion with corrupt government officials1 are involved in wildlife poaching and the movement of ivory and rhinoceros horns across ,africa2 ,whereas wildlife poaching presents significant security and stability challenges for military and police forces in ,african nations that are often threatened by heavily armed poachers and the criminal1 extremist allies of those poachers2 ,whereas wildlife poaching negatively impacts local communities that rely on natural resources for economic development1 including through tourism2 ,whereas assisting institutions in developing nations1 including by providing material1 training1 legal1 and diplomatic support1 can reduce illegal wildlife trade2 ,whereas wildlife provides a multitude of benefits to all nations and wildlife crime has wide-ranging economic1 environmental1 and social impacts2 ,whereas the ,african ,elephant ,status ,report #bjaf issued by the ,international ,union for ,conservation of ,nature revealed that the elephant population of ,africa has recently seen a dramatic decline1 mainly due to poaching1 and the continental population is now thought to be approximately #dae1jjj2 ,whereas1 from #bjjg to #bjab1 the number of elephants killed in ,kenya increased by more than #hjj percent1 from #dg to #chg elephants killed2 ,whereas1 between #bjjb and #bjac1 as a result of poaching1 about #fe percent of the forest elephant population in ,central ,africa was killed and forest elephants lost #cj percent of the geographical range of forest elephants1 placing forest elephants on track for extinction in the next decade2 ,whereas fewer than #ej1jjj wild ,asian elephants remain and poaching of these populations is on the rise1 with an average of #a elephant poached every week in ,burma1 driven by demand for elephant skin products2 ,whereas the number of rhinoceroses killed by poachers in ,south ,africa-- 7#a7 dramatically increased from #ac in #bjjg to #a1bae in #bjad1 an increase of more than #i1jjj percent2 and 7#b7 was #gfi in #bjah2 ,whereas-- 7#a7 the #c species of ,asian rhinoceroses also remain under constant threat of poaching2 and 7#b7 the total populations of ,javan and ,sumatran rhinoceros number fewer than #ajj individuals in the wild2 ,whereas fewer than #d1jjj tigers remain in the wild throughout ,asia2 ,whereas pangolins are often referred to as the most trafficked mammal in the world2 ,whereas all #h pangolin species spanning ,africa and ,asia are faced with extinction because pangolin scales are sought after in the practice of traditional ,chinese medicine and pangolin meat is considered a delicacy2 ,whereas the oceans-- 7#a7 cover #c_/d of the surface of the ,earth2 7#b7 contain #ig percent of the water on the ,earth2 7#c7 represent #ii percent of the living space on the earth by volume2 and 7#d7 contain nearly #bjj1jjj identified animal species2 ,whereas the global market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated to be approximately #c1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj per year1 representing about #e percent of global gross domestic product2 ,whereas more than #c1jjj1jjj1jjj people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods2 ,whereas an estimated #h1jjj1jjj metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year1 harming a wide range of wildlife species2 ,whereas illegal1 unreported1 and unregulated fishing 7referred to in this preamble as ,,iuu fishing7 represents a multibillion dollar criminal industry that-- 7#a7 undercuts the economic livelihoods of legitimate fishermen2 7#b7 weakens marine animal populations2 7#c7 poses a threat to international security2 and 7#d7 threatens food security for communities around the world2 ,whereas overfishing-- 7#a7 contributes to the rapid depletion of many species of fish2 and 7#b7 hinders efforts to save and restore global fisheries and the jobs relating to those fisheries2 ,whereas approximately #ajj1jjj1jjj sharks are killed annually1 often targeted solely for their fins1 and unsustainable trade is the primary cause of serious population decline in several shark species1 including scalloped hammerhead sharks1 great hammerhead sharks1 and oceanic whitetip sharks2 ,whereas the vaquita porpoise of ,mexico1 with fewer than #ad individual porpoises remaining1 is being driven to extinction2 ,whereas penal and financial deterrents can-- 7#a7 improve the ability of governments to reduce poaching1 trafficking1 and ,,iuu fishing2 and 7#b7 enhance the capabilities of those governments to manage their resources2 ,whereas the ,united ,states is developing and implementing measures to address the criminal1 financial1 security1 and environmental aspects of wildlife trafficking2 ,whereas ,congress has allocated specific resources to combat wildlife trafficking and ,,iuu fishing and address additional threats to wildlife2 ,whereas ,congress passed the ,eliminate1 ,neutralize1 and ,disrupt ,wildlife ,trafficking ,act of #bjaf 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja et seq47 to strengthen the response of the ,united ,states to the global wildlife trafficking crisis2 ,whereas ,congress passed the ,save ,our ,seas ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-bfe2 #acb ,stat4 #cgdb7-- 7#a7 to address land- and sea-based sources of marine debris2 and 7#b7 to promote international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris2 ,whereas1 in ,december #bjac1 the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly proclaimed ,march #c as ,world ,wildlife ,day to celebrate and raise awareness of the wild fauna and flora around the world2 ,whereas ,march #c1 #bjai1 represents the sixth annual celebration of ,world ,wildlife ,day2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 the theme of ,world ,wildlife ,day is ,life below water3 for people and planet2 and ,whereas1 in #bjai1 ,world ,wildlife ,day commemorations will-- 7#a7 raise awareness about the breathtaking diversity of marine life2 7#b7 highlight the crucial importance of marine species to human development2 and 7#c7 encourage future generations to continue efforts to protect marine ecosystems3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates ,march #c1 #bjai1 as ,world ,wildlife ,day2 7#b7 supports raising awareness of the benefits that wildlife provides to people and the threats facing wildlife around the world2 7#c7 supports escalating the fight against wildlife crime1 including wildlife trafficking and illegal1 unreported1 and unregulated fishing2 7#d7 applauds the domestic and international efforts to escalate the fight against wildlife crime2 7#e7 commends the efforts of the ,united ,states to mobilize the entire ,federal ,government in a coordinated1 efficient1 and effective manner for dramatic progress in the fight against wildlife crime2 and 7#f7 encourages continued cooperation between the ,united ,states1 international partners1 local communities1 nonprofit organizations1 private industry1 and other partner organizations in an effort to conserve and celebrate wildlife1 preserving this precious resource for future generations4