Bushmeat

As a member of the Petitions Committee, Jean was instrumental in pushing for action on the trade in bushmeat.

In January 2004, Euro-MPs voted to take urgent measures to stamp out the illegal trade in endangered species as poached ‘bushmeat’ in response to the most widely supported petition, with 1.9 million signatures, to the European Parliament.

“Logging companies are responsible for opening up forested areas and encouraging the use of bushmeat as an apparently free and readily available food source for their workers.”

Jean Lambert Green MEP

Evidence suggested that increasing quantities of endangered wildlife were being sold as luxury meat in the EU.  The increased sale of bushmeat was due to increased urban demands, use of modern weapons and hunting methods.

As a serious threat to endangered species and encroaching on the resources on which forest-dwelling people depend The European Parliament voted to stamp out the import and sale of illegally poached wildlife as meat and work closely with international agencies and developing nations to stamp out the poaching of wildlife that fuels the trade.

“Wildlife must be seen as valuable assets shared by us all and not expendable, expensive luxuries for the few. We must educate both consumers and suppliers of ilegal bushmeat in the EU an d keep the bushmeat trade out of Europe.”

Jean Lambert, Green MEP

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