The emergence of a commercial trade in pangolins from Gabon

Recent seizures of illegally-held wildlife indicate a mounting global trade in pangolins involving all eight species. Seizures of illegally-traded African pangolins are increasing as wild populations of Asian species decline. We investigated trade in pangolins and law enforcement efforts in Gabon; a country likely to have intact wild populations of three of the four species of African pangolin. We compared village sales and trade chains between 2002-3 and 2014. Hunters reported pangolins to be the most frequently requested species in 2014 and the value of pangolins had increased at every point along their trade chain. In Libreville, giant pangolin prices increased 211% and arboreal pangolin prices 73% whilst inflation rose only 4.6% over the same period. We documented a low rate of interception of illegally-traded pangolins despite increased law enforcement. Surveys of potential export routes detected exports across forest borders, in conjunction with ivory, but not through public transport routes. We conclude that whilst there is clear potential and ikelihood that a wild pangolin export trade is emerging from Gabon, traditional bushmeat trade chains may not be the primary supply route. We recommend adjusting conservation policies and actions to impede further development of illegal trade within and from Gabon

"Strength in diversity? French and German regional responses to European Union educational initiatives"

This paper examines the relations between the regional, national and supra-national levels of government within the European Union (EU). Specifically, it compares the responses of the 22 French regions and the 16 Germans states to the EU’s initiatives in education policy. The hypothesis set forth is that both the French and German regional governments have greatly benefited from EU policies such as Socrates/Erasmus and Leonardo that aim to integrate the education policies of the EU member states. The evidence suggests that by participating in these programs the national governments of France and Germany have lost policy-making competence to the higher level of government, i.e. the European Union, and to the lower level of government, the French regions and the German Länder. This is called the "sandwich hypothesis" because the national governments are seen to be squeezed between the growing power of the EU supra-national institutions, on the one hand, and the increasing influence of the regional governments, on the other hand. Our paper thus sheds some light on the theoretical discussion of the changing role of the nation-state facing the twin forces of internationalization and regionalization within the European Union

Solusi interior kreatif

139 hlm. ; Ilus. ; Tab. ; 22 c