Prince William and Prince Charles have teamed up to publicize the devastating effects of the illegal wildlife trade in a video they released today, in an effort to stop the trade and killing of the world’s wildlife species.

The duo’s plea included urging people to show their support for organizations working to stop the exchange of illegal wildlife around the world.

“We have come together, as father and son, to lend our voices to the growing global effort to combat the illegal wildlife trade,” the 65-year-old royal says in the approximately 9-minute clip. “A trade that has reached such unprecedented levels of killing and related violence that it now poses a grave threat not only to the survival of some of the world’s most treasured species, but also to economic and political stability in many areas around the world.”

They explain, in some detail, how endangered species are killed in astonishingly high numbers, and reveal the political and economic effects of the illegal wildlife trade.

“Despite the terrible crisis that we now face, we both continue to be optimistic that the tide can be reversed,” Prince William continued, “We have to be the generation that stopped the illegal wildlife trade, and secured the future of these magnificent animals, and their habitats, for if we fail, it will be too late.”

The father-son duo are following through with their message in action as well, as William will be attending the United for Wildlife Symposium at the Zoological Society London, and a reception at the Natural History Museum, on Wednesday, which is hosted by the U.K. government on the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Then on Thursday, they both are showing their support and participation in attending the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, where leaders from across the globe will meet to discuss a more permanent solution to protecting the world’s endangered species.

William, 31, says in the video, “Despite the terrible crisis that we now face, we both continue to be optimistic that the tide can be reversed.”

The video ends with the two royals saying the phrase “Let’s unite for wildlife!” in several different languages.

Image via World Wildlife Fund