Programme of the conference
Day 1 - bushmeat trade - 3 december 2019
9.10 Welcome introduction : Importance of integrating biodiversity and animal welfare in One World One Health, by François-Xavier de Donnea, Minister of State and Chair of the Federal Council for Sustainable development (Belgium)
9.20-9.25 Opening by Chair, Roseline C. Beudels-Jamar (Chair of WWF-Belgium and Conservation Biology Unit of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences)
9.25-9.45 The global trade of exotic animals: an overview of the scale in Belgium and in the European Union, by Sofie Ruysschaert (WWF-Belgium)
9.45-10.05 The use of wild meat in the tropics and its implications on food security and ecosystem function, by John Fa (Manchester Metropolitan University - CIFOR)
10.05-10.25 Controls of illegal importation of meat into Belgium through airports, by Vera Jansegers (Customs) & Rixta Lycklama à Nijeholt
(Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain)
10.25-10.30 Questions & Answers
10.30-10.50 Coffee break & press briefing
10.50-11.10 The import of wildlife products for food: overview and results of a two-year study on illegal meat import conducted at Brussels airport (2017-2018),
by Anne-Lise Chaber (University of Liège & University of Adelaide)
11.10-11.30 Health risks related to the trade of exotic animals, by Herwig Leirs (University of Antwerp)
11.30-11.50 Pathogens discovery from imported meat seized at Brussels Airport (2017-2018), by Mutien-Marie Garigliany (University of Liège)
11.50-12.10 Identifying the drivers of local demand for African bushmeat in Western countries, by Sandrella Morrison-Lanjouw (University Medical Center Utrecht)
12.10-12.30 Enforcement perspectives of the bushmeat trade at European and national level? by Carole Billiet (Ghent University & Brussels Bar)
12.30-12.50 Critical analysis of the current situation, by Erik Verheyen (Museum - Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences)
12.50-13.00 Questions & Answers
13.00-14.00 Lunch break
14.00-15.45 Reflexion on suggested recommendations - working group discussions facilitated by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform
- Recommendations on how to tackle the bushmeat trade to national & European public authorities
- Recommendations on how to tackle the bushmeat trade to the private sector
- Recommendations on how to tackle the bushmeat trade to passengers and consumers
15.45-16.00 Coffee break
16.00-16.45 Identification of ways to implement recommendations - working group discussions facilitated by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform
16.45-17.00 Wrap-up session and closure of the meeting by Chair
Day 2 - trade in exotic reptiles and amphibians - 4 december 2019
9.10 Welcome introduction: Reptiles and amphibians trade in the larger context of wildlife trade and globalisation by Marie-Christine Marghem, Federal Minister of Environnent (Belgium)
9.20 - 9.25 Opening by Chair, Caroline Nieberding (Catholic University of Louvain)
9.25 - 9.50 Threats to reptiles and amphibians posed by live trade: reconciling conservation, welfare and sustainable use, by Richard Griffiths (University of Kent)
9.50 - 10.10 Animal-welfare in the context of wildlife trade, by Marina Salas (Antwerp Zoo)
10.10 - 10.30 Results of a study on wildlife trade databases, by Sonia Vanderhoeven (Belgian Biodiversity Platform)
10.30 -10.40 Questions & Answers
10.40 -11.00 Coffee break (and press briefing)
11.00-11.20 Impacts of the trade and the keeping of reptiles and amphibians on animal, public health & animal welfare, including their abandonment,
by Frank Pasmans (Ghent University)
11.20-11.40 Consequences of trade: impacts of invasive herpetofauna on biodiversity, by Tim Adriaens (Research Institute Nature and Forest)
11.40-12.00 Approach taken in the setting-up of positive lists of reptiles at regional level, by Claire Diederich (University of Namur) and
Tom Hellebuyck (University of Ghent)
12.00-12.20 Who are the owners of reptiles? An ethnogeographic approach, by Véronique Servais (University of Liège)
12.20-12.40 Challenges for a legal, sustainable and traceable trade in live amphibians and reptiles into the EU, by Mark Auliya
(Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Department Herpetology)
12.40-13.00 Questions & Answers
13.00-14.00 Lunch break
14.00-15.45 Reflexion on suggested recommendations - working group discussions facilitated by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform
- Recommendations on how to enhance the sustainability of the trade in reptiles & amphibians to national & European public authorities
- Recommendations on how to enhance the sustainability of the trade in reptiles & amphibians to importers, pet shops and professional breeders
- Recommendations on how to enhance the sustainability of the trade in reptiles & amphibians to keepers and hobby breeders
15.45-16.00 Coffee break
16.00-16.45 Identification of ways to implement recommendations - working group discussions facilitated by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform
16.45-17.00 Wrap-up session and closure of the meeting by Chair