Dubai Customs today opened its second awareness campaign this year at the Deira City Centre which is aimed at protecting endangered animals.

This follows the success of its first campaign held last May at Mirdif City Center, a statement from Dubai Customs said. These in-mall activities complement the campaigns being carried out through social networking sites to educate the public about endangered species and the importance of saving them.

Feryal Tawakul, executive director of community affairs and government partnership division at Dubai Customs, said: “The campaign comes within Dubai Customs’ strategy of educating the community about imperiled animals and increasing awareness about various environmental and community issues.”

“Dubai Customs is one of the leading government departments that places emphasis on matters related to the protection of environment and habitats as part of their strategic priorities to ensure adherence to international conventions and initiatives in this regard.”   

“The campaign is also in line with our social responsibility efforts, strategic plans, its keenness to preserve the environment (inland-sea-air) and its goal of spreading a culture of environment protection. During the events, informative brochures will be distributed to visitors at Deira City Centre,” she added.   

“Visitors to the mall will also have an idea about the role of Customs inspectors who continuously receive training courses to improve their skills and develop their competencies with the aim of carrying out effective missions to protect the local community from infiltration of prohibited goods or entry of such goods for local use through air, inland or seaports, thus maintaining the favourable international image of Dubai Customs in the area of customs inspection.”

In March 2012, the department launched a campaign through social networking sites Facebook and Twitter to publish information about the imperiled animals and plants, educating the public about the consequences of their extinction, in addition to the importance of releasing regular updated lists of endangered species in coordination with the related agencies and Ministry of Environment and Water.
 
The smuggling of endangered animals, plants and their products is against Islamic principles and in violation of international legislations including the convention of Cites.

The UAE Federal Law No (11) of 2002 pertaining to Regulating and Controlling  of the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora restricts the export, transit, unloading, re-shipping, re-exporting or entry of any animals or plants or their derivatives without official approvals, certificates and attestation.

“We are pleased to partner and support Dubai Customs to shed light on endangered animals, and raise awareness about their illegal trade,” said Fuad Al Najjar, senior asset director, asset management, Deira City Centre. “With Dubai Summer Surprises being such a busy time for the mall, we feel it is the ideal platform to also host this event and educate shoppers on the importance of stopping illegal ownership and trade of exotic animals.” 
 
“As per the Cites convention, imperiled animals, including their skins and taxidermies, as well as plants should be disclosed at airports, sea and inland ports by passengers to Dubai Customs inspectors, otherwise it will be considered as smuggling and will be an offence punishable by law,” Tawakul added.

The campaign will run till June 24. – TradeArabia News Service