Washington, D.C. February 15, 2019. Today, internationally recognized wildlife whistleblower attorney, Stephen M. Kohn, will be a guest on Terra Verde, a weekly radio show covering environmental issues on 94.1 FM in Berkeley, CA (KPFA Radio). The program airs at 5 pm EST (2 pm PST) and will also be available live online here. The program will highlight how whistleblowers can be used to mobilize wildlife protection and to effectively fight against wildlife trafficking.
Environmental journalist, Richard Schiffman, who authored “Missed Opportunity Is the vaquita’s plight linked to the US government’s failure to take advantage of one of its most powerful wildlife crime-fighting tools?” will also be a guest. Schiffman’s article, published by Earth Island Journal, detailed the government’s failure to implement a whistleblower reward program to offer incentives in exchange for information that can be used to prosecute wildlife criminals is a contributing factor to Vaquita’s impending extinction.
Today’s program will also talk about pending bipartisan legislation that will have a significant impact on wildlife trafficking. The Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019 (H.R. 864) was introduced in January by Reps. Don Young (R-AK) and John Garamendi (D-CA). This groundbreaking legislation enhances the ability of informants worldwide to detect and report wildlife crimes. It also strengthens the laws criminalizing trafficking. Support this effort by sending messages to Members of Congress & President Trump urging their support for the Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act.
