Logistics giants issue convention against wildlife trade

China Express Association released an industry convention on Tuesday, calling for joint support from express logistics firms nationwide to refuse service for illegal trade of protected wildlife and products.

Fourteen companies, 12 domestic logistics giants including EMS, SF-Express, YTO-Express and two international companies DHL and FedEx, signed the convention.

The convention requires express logistics companies to strictly observe the law and regulations on wildlife and production trade. It also encourages the companies to provide regular anti-trafficking trainings for their employees.

The companies that signed the convention occupy about 90 percent share of China’s total express logistics market and are expected to strongly influence crackdown on online illegal trade of wildlife and products, said Jiao Zheng, deputy secretary general of the association.

"The convention shows our great determination to fight illegal trade of wildlife. It also reduces companies’ risks of breaking related laws and regulation. We hope more express logistics companies will sign the convention voluntarily,” he said.

The express delivery industry has been boosted by booming e-commerce in China. A total of 50.71 billion parcels were delivered last year, up 26.6 percent year-on-year.

The sector generated 603.84 billion yuan ($89.34 billion) in revenue during the period, up 21.8 percent year-on-year, according to the State Post Bureau. By 2020, China expects to become the world's largest express delivery market with a business revenue of 800 billion yuan.

Zhou Fei, chief program officer of World Wildlife Fund, said cross-border illegal trade on wildlife has found the express logistics industry a new way to traffick and sell endangered wildlife and products from abroad to China.

He said WWF welcomed the convention and efforts of the companies. “WWF will give support and provide training based on our research and raise the awareness of wildlife protection among their employees,” he said.