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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for wildlife law enforcement
31 results foundAuthor: Nowell, Kristin Title: Wildlife Crime Scorecard: Assessing Compliance with and Enforcement of CITES Commitments for Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants Summary: International commercial trade of elephants, rhinos and tigers – and their parts and products — is almost universally prohibited by CITES, the international endangered species trade convention, however the enforcement of this restriction remains weak. Illegal trade in ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts is of major conservation concern. While CITES mainly prohibits or regulates international trade, it has continued to expand its role to prevent illegal trade at the national level through the adoption of various “Decisions” and “Resolutions”. This is critical to ensure illegal trade at national levels does not lead to international trade dynamics that undermine the conservation of elephants, rhinos and tigers, in addition to the effectiveness of the Convention itself. The approach to each species group differs, but all include national measures to control not only international, but also internal trade in the species’ parts, derivatives and products: • For tigers, it is recommended that internal trade be “prohibited” (Res Conf. 12.5 Rev. CoP15 ); • For rhinos, it is recommended that such trade be “restricted” (Res Conf. 9.14 Rev. CoP15); • For elephants, “unregulated domestic sale of ivory [is to] to be prohibited” under the Action Plan for the Control of Trade in Elephant Ivory Decision 13.26 Rev. CoP15 Annex 2). Other common themes include strengthening law enforcement; coordination with other countries; improved data collection; enacting deterrent legal penalties for illegal trade; and raising public awareness, especially among user groups. Tigers, rhinos and elephants were the subject of renewed and substantial concern at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP15) in 2010 and the 61st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC61) in 2011, specifically in regard to the scale of illegal trade. This report, produced to coincide with the 62nd meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (in July 2012), selects 23 range, transit and consumer countries from Asia and Africa facing the highest levels of illegal trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts (Annex 1), and evaluates their progress since CoP15 towards compliance with and enforcement of CITES commitments for these three species groups. Countries are scored green, yellow and red to signal recent implementation effort, and indicate whether governments are moving in the right direction to curb illegal trade in these species groups, or to indicate whether they have made little progress. Recent actions underpinning the country scores are discussed, and recommendations are made for all countries to improve compliance and enforcement, but with focus on key countries identified in this assessment as urgently needing to show progress. It is important to note that illegal internal trade in these three species groups persists in virtually all of the selected countries, however this report seeks to differentiate countries where it is actively being countered from those where current efforts are entirely inadequate. It should also be noted that a green score of all three species groups does not mean that the country in question is free of wildlife crime. In many cases there are widespread problems concerning illegal trade in other species, such as reptiles and primates. Moreover, some of these countries are performing poorly in terms of other conservation governance indicators and threats to the three species groups, such as the integrity of protected areas. Details: Gland, SWIT: World Wildlife Fund, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 7, 2012 at: http://www.wwf.se/source.php/1486859/WWF%20Wildlife%20Crime%20Scorecard%20Report[1].pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.wwf.se/source.php/1486859/WWF%20Wildlife%20Crime%20Scorecard%20Report[1].pdf Shelf Number: 125903 Keywords: Animal PoachingCITESEndangered SpeciesIllegal TradeIvoryTigers, Elephants, RhinosWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trade |
Author: Kasterine, A. Title: The Trade in South-East Asian Python Skins Summary: South-East Asian pythons are heavily exploited for skins, food and traditional Chinese medicines, with nearly half a million python skins alone exported annually. The trade provides cash income for a large, but unknown, number of rural people across the region that collect, breed and process pythons. The high number of skins traded has raised concerns about the conservation impact of harvests upon wild python populations and the potential animal welfare issues associated with this trade. This report describes the trade flows for the five most heavily traded python species from South-East Asia (Python reticulatus, Python molurus bivittatus, P. curtus, P. brongersmai and P. breitensteini). It identifies the main points of value addition in the supply chain and considers aspects of illegality. In addition, it reviews the current understanding related to the sustainability and welfare issues regarding python harvesting for the skin trade and offers a series of recommendations to help guide relevant stakeholders, including CITES, governments, the private sector and NGOs, on improving the mechanisms by which trade operates. Details: Geneva: International Trade Centre, 2012. 74p. Source: Technical Paper: Internet Resource: Accessed December 16, 2012 at http://www.intracen.org/uploadedFiles/intracenorg/Content/Publications/The%20Trade%20in%20Southeast%20Asian%20Python%20Skins%20for%20web.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Asia URL: http://www.intracen.org/uploadedFiles/intracenorg/Content/Publications/The%20Trade%20in%20Southeast%20Asian%20Python%20Skins%20for%20web.pdf Shelf Number: 127222 Keywords: Animal PoachingCITESEndangered SpeciesIllegal TradePythonsWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trade |
Author: Stoner, Sarah Title: Reduced to Skin and Bones Revisited: An Updated Analysis of Tiger Seizures From 12 Tiger Range Countries (2000-2012) Summary: In 2010, TRAFFIC produced ‘Reduced to Skin and Bones: An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 11 Tiger Range Countries (2000-2010)’ (Verheij, 2010). The purpose of the present report is to provide an updated situational analysis of the current illegal Tiger Panthera tigris trade picture and to gain an improved understanding of one of the greatest threats to the Tiger’s survival. This report also aims to illustrate the need, use, practicability and direction that can be gained from the central collation and analysis of seizure data. Its conclusions outline the need for Tiger range and consumer countries to agree on and adhere to a standardized format for sharing and reporting data on poaching and illegal trade. Seizures are indicators both of illegal trade and of law enforcement effort. A lack of reported seizures (such as in Myanmar) needs to be considered against other data, which in this case points to substantial illegal transit trade, based on TRAFFIC market surveys. Seizure information was collected from a variety of sources, most importantly directly from a number of Tiger range country (TRC) governments, as well as TRAFFIC and WWF offices, supplemented with online research including media reports of government announcements of law enforcement activity. To render seizure data comparable, records of seized items were tallied as units that could be used to calculate the number of Tigers involved in each seizure. Since 2000, there have been 654 seizures of Tiger parts and derivatives across 12 TRCs (Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Viet Nam1). It is estimated that a minimum 1425 Tigers were seized during this period. Since only a fraction of Tigers in illegal trade are intercepted by law enforcement, the scale of criminal activity represents a serious ongoing threat to the survival of wild Tigers, generally considered to number as low as 3200. India, the country with the largest national wild Tiger population, reported the most seizures since 2000 (336). Next were China (58) and Viet Nam (50), which have small numbers of wild Tigers, but large numbers of captive animals. Both China and Viet Nam have been identified as important zones of consumption for illegal Tiger products. Looking at recent seizures (2010-2012), the proportion that India accounts for shows a downward trend, 29% of total seizures compared to 58% for 2000-2009. Conversely, the proportion of seizures has increased for other TRCs such as China, Malaysia, Nepal and Russia but is most notable for Viet Nam, rising from 6% to 14%. Moreover, Indonesia with a relatively small wild Tiger population and few known captive animals, disproportionately seized almost 20% of all Tigers seized in the past three years. Clearly, as this study demonstrates, demand persists - tigers are still being poached and seized. Improved law enforcement and the emergence of intelligence-led policing may mean that some aspects of the illicit trade are being displaced to online markets. As has been revealed in China, offenders have shown that they can adapt their modus operandi to circumvent detection, including a shift towards the trading of Tiger parts and products online. It is paramount that law enforcement also adopts this approach by identifying the current and relevant threats and shifts their focus to ensure they are one step ahead of the offenders. Understanding how end-user markets operate will ensure that criminals cannot continue to evade detection. Details: London: TRAFFIC International, 2013. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2013 at: http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/542/files/original/traffic_species_mammals73.pdf?1362619925 Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/542/files/original/traffic_species_mammals73.pdf?1362619925 Shelf Number: 127907 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeTigersWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) Title: Parks and Reserves of Ghana: Management Effectiveness Assessment of Protected Areas Summary: Ghana is endowed with diverse ecosystems, which results in a relatively high degree of diversity of plant and animal species. The network of protected areas is a fair representation of all these ecosystems namely: Guinean savannah woodland, transition between dry forest and guinea savannah, dry semi-deciduous forest, moist evergreen forest, transitional zone between moistevergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest types, and dry evergreen forest. The diversity of Ghana Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs) protects a very wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, vascular plants and butterflies. Some WPAs are part of the upper Guinean rain forest which is very rich in biodiversity. The transboundary nature of other parks like Kyabobo makes it possible for buffalos and elephants to move between Ghana and Togo (Fazao-Malfakassa National Park). In Ghana, the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission is responsible for the protection and management of wildlife protected areas (WPAs). Until 1999 the Wildlife Division was known as the Wildlife Department, a single, centralized government institution directly under the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, now Lands and Natural Resources. Since its creation in 1967, WD has been severely under-resourced and unable to perform its mandate effectively. This has led to a serious reduction in management capability and, as a result, the conservation of a lot of PAs has suffered. There are twenty one (21) WPAs in Ghana totalling 1,347,600 ha or 5.6% of the country. The protected area network includes 7 National Parks, 6 Resource Reserves, 2 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve and 5 coastal wetlands. These PAs are of economic importance as they contribute to improving standards of living of communities surrounding them. Livelihood support programmes exist in some communities surrounding the park, as well as community based tourism programmes. Some plant species are used for wood production and some of the PAs contain medicinal plants. Some PAs also have cultural, religious or spiritual significance with shrines and sacred grooves, for example, and some have aesthetic attractions such as the Bamboo Cathedral and Rapids in Ankasa; Waterfalls, Magnificent Caves in Bomfobiri, and Kakum. WPAs in Ghana are subject to pressures and threats, the main pressures being poaching, bush fires and land conversion due to farming or grazing around or within the PAs. Illegal gathering of wild plants and animals (poaching) is present in all PAs at different degrees of severity. There is a high demand for bush meat, rattan and chewing stick. Rattan is poached for craft; elephants are hunted for their tusks, and leopard for skin. But killing of animals is also a result of human/wildlife conflict. Poaching is less severe in some PAs because of better law enforcement or the setting up of community initiatives that regulate harvesting of non-timber forest products, which contributes to reduction in poaching. Land conversion is mainly due to cocoa farming outside the parks in southwestern Ghana. In Shai Hills, illegal grazing by livestock affects the overall productivity of the reserve. These pressures increase the PAs' vulnerability, which is an issue in most of the PAs. Indeed, there is high demand for resources for cultural and economic purpose; in some parks like Mole, group hunting is a cultural practice, and bush fires are sometimes caused by fire festival, and for the installation of a chief, part of some key species like elephant or lion are sometimes needed. Details: Ouagadougou, BF: UICN/PACO, 2010. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-073.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ghana URL: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-073.pdf Shelf Number: 128007 Keywords: Animal PoachingEnvironmental CrimesNatural Resources (Ghana)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: JALA – the Advocacy Network for North Sumatra Fisherfolk Title: When Fishing Turns Deadly: The Environmental and Social Impacts of Illegal Trawling in North Sumatra Summary: North Sumatra is particularly significant to the antitrawler movement in Indonesia because it is here that the numbers of trawlers are greatest, and therefore also here that the conflict between traditional fishing communities and trawlers has been the most widespread and severe. The large increase in the number of trawlers in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in large decreases in catch and income levels for local fishermen10, particularly in the 3 mile zone reserved for traditional fishing activities. Trawlers have often illegally entered these areas, a practice that frequently continues to this day. There was and is little enforcement of the law by any level of government. The result has been anger and frustration on the part of local fishing communities over their decrease in income and the lack of government action. The incursions by trawlers into the traditional fishing zone and resulting contact with local fishermen have had tragic consequences. Trawlers have crushed small fishing boats, resulting in injuries and loss of equipment, and in some cases deaths11. In response traditional fishermen have attacked and burnt trawlers. These clashes between traditional fishermen and trawlers result in injury and loss of life on both sides; many fishermen have been injured, disappeared or died. JALA estimates that the conflict has resulted in over 200 casualties in North Sumatra over the last 15 years. These events continue to be of serious concern; the most recent deadly confrontation occurred at the end of February 2007 near Pantai Cermin, Deli Serdang district. JALA strongly condemns the violent actions taken by both sides, and promotes non-violent solutions amongst the local fishing communities to the problem of trawlers. Together with other NGOs and fishermen organizations, JALA is active in resolving the conflict by providing non-litigation support for traditional fishermen. JALA also works with the NGO Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), which provides professional legal representation for local fishermen impacted by the conflict, who otherwise would not be provided with any information or assistance Details: London: Environmental Justice Foundation, 2008. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing: Accessed March 21, 2013 at: http://www.imcsnet.org/imcs/docs/when_fishing_turns_deadly_north_sumatra.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.imcsnet.org/imcs/docs/when_fishing_turns_deadly_north_sumatra.pdf Shelf Number: 128055 Keywords: Illegal Fishing (North Sumatra, Indonesia)Maritime CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Environmental Justice Foundation Title: Illegal Driftnetting in the Mediterranean Summary: Driftnets, ostensibly banned from the Mediterranean by both the European Union and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) since 2002 and 2003, respectively, continue to be used illegally across the region to catch valuable large pelagic species, mainly swordfish and tuna. There are estimated to be up to 600 illegal driftnet vessels operating in the Mediterranean, including many from EU Member States, namely Italy (100+ vessels), and France (70-100 vessels). Major fleets are also based in Morocco (150-300 vessels), Turkey (up to 110 vessels) and Algeria. Although there is very little data available on either the catch rate or the associated bycatch of this illegal fishery, it is clear that driftnetting practices, whether legal or illegal, have had devastating environmental consequences globally, and for the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea in particular. Between 1986 and 1900, driftnets were responsible for 83% of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) stranded and, at the peak of driftnetting, an annual bycatch of over 8,000 cetaceans was estimated for Italian seas alone, with up to 10,000 dying annually across the whole Mediterranean. Vulnerable, slow reproducing species have suffered from high bycatch levels in driftnets, including sharks, rays, sea turtles and sea birds. According to figures supplied by the Italian Merchant Marine Ministry, in 1990-91 only 18% of the catch of the Italian driftnet fleet, which was the largest in the region at the time, was swordfish; the other 82% consisted of some different species, almost all of which were discarded. Despite the evident destructive nature of driftnets, also called ‘walls of death’, due to their propensity for catching enormous numbers of non-target species, a combination of weak enforcement and loopholes in French and Italian fisheries law have enabled sizeable driftnet fleets to flout EU and international law for more than a decade. The European authorities have openly acknowledged the Italian and French governments’ failure to enforce EU fisheries policy but have so far failed to punish these clear infractions of the Common Fisheries Policy. In France, effective action against driftnets has come not from the EU, but from three NGOs - France Nature Environnement, S.O.S Grand Bleu, and Groupe de Recherche sur les Cétacés (GREC) – who have successfully challenged the status of the “thonaille” fishery operating within the internationally protected Pelagos sanctuary for marine mammals. The thonaille is now officially recognised as a driftnet under French law and is therefore illegal. However, evidence from the 2006 season indicates that the ban is not being enforced and fishing continues with impunity. In Italy, driftnetting also continues, with 800km of nets confiscated by the Italian authorities in 2005 and 400km seized in the first half of 2006. The use of driftnets around the island of Ischia in the Tyrrhenian Sea has been monitored for a number of years by Delphis, a local cetacean research organisation. Illegally caught swordfish have been observed being landed and transferred onto vans bearing the EU logo, and numerous stranded striped dolphins and sperm whales have been found with scars indicative of being caught in driftnets. There is also compelling evidence from several sources that many vessel owners, having received up to €70,000 of EU taxpayers’ money as compensation, continue to fish illegally. The Italian authorities have spent more than €200 million compensating driftnet fishermen, with 75% of this coming from the EU. Despite the generous funding that has been allocated to phasing-out this destructive fishery, driftnets are actually getting bigger. Details: London: EJF, 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://www.theblackfish.org/files/Driftnets_EJF.pdf Year: 0 Country: Europe URL: http://www.theblackfish.org/files/Driftnets_EJF.pdf Shelf Number: 128098 Keywords: Illegal FishingWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (Europe)Wildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Gurung, Bhim Title: Tiger Human Conflicts: Investigating Ecological and Sociological Issues of Tiger Conservation in the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Final Report Summary: Historically, there was contiguous forest all across the terai region of Nepal and tigers were distributed in high densities. The situation changed during early 1960s because the tiger habitat in the terai was drastically reduced as a result of human resettlement program. The destruction of habitat and fragmentation lead to the sharp decline in tiger population. Sport hunting and poaching also contributed to its decline. Like other tiger range countries Government of Nepal worked to overcome this crisis since early 70s. Protected areas were established, strict protection was adopted, and stiffer wildlife laws against wildlife criminals were endorsed. To further increase the land base for tigers buffer zone community forests around the parks and reserves were promulgated and moreover, Nepal initiated an ambitious Tarai Arc Landscape project not only to increase land base for tigers but also to restore connectivity between reserves. Tiger conservation effort in Nepal has been successful. After establishment of protected areas in the early 1970s tiger numbers increased and since late 1970s numbers have been stable in protected areas. Density, based on mean female home range size, is the highest anywhere. The improvement of habitat quality in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park and elsewhere across the terai has increased the overall land base where tigers reside. Breeding has been recorded at five sites outside of protected areas. Such increase in habitat use by tigers in the multiple use buffer zone community forests resulted in conflict between tiger and human. Over the last quarter of a century 88 people have been killed by tigers in and around the park. The trend of human loss has been increased significantly from an average of 1.5 persons per year (1979 – 1998) to 8.25 per year since 1999. The increasing trend of people killed was significant in the buffer zone but not inside the park. A total of 37 tigers were involved in killing 88 people. Of these, 17 were removed because of their man-eating behavior. The number of problem tigers removed per year increased dramatically in 2004-05. Four relevant factors were associated with man-eating tigers: (1) injured or aged tigers find it difficult to kill natural prey, (2) imbalance between tiger and prey base, (3) aggressive tiger behavior and, (4) defensive or accidental killing. Management actions were not taken against if it appeared that tigers killed humans accidentally; however, if possible the tigers that turned into deliberate “man-eaters” were removed. A high percentage (38%) of humans killed by tigers occurred in the south sector of the park, i.e. Madi Valley. This study focused on the status of tigers and its prey in Chitwan National Park and in the Madi Valley buffer zone. Tiger and prey were relatively more abundant in the park than buffer zone. However, the disturbance factors, measured as encounter rate of livestock and human were significantly higher in the park than the buffer zone. Reduced human activity in the buffer zone as compared to the park is because there is a stronger incentive to local people to control local use of buffer zone forest. Support of local people is critical in tiger conservation in the human dominated landscape. To understand the perceptions of Madi population towards tigers and its conservation, a household questionnaire survey was conducted. Majority of the people in Madi valley did not like tigers in the neighboring forests because of threat to people and livestock. However, just less than half of the people liked tigers because of ecological, utilitarian, and moral values. To mitigate the conflict the study recommends establishing a system to regularly monitor tigers in cooperation with the local “Bagh Heralus” attached to each community forestry user committee. Each committee in cooperation with Park staff would supervise the “Bagh Heralu” and the overall goal of the tiger and prey monitoring program would be to understand the activity pattern of tigers living in the buffer zone, implement a tiger conservation awareness program designed to educate local people on tiger biology and research, and to create a problem tiger response team to act immediately and efficiently to assist in conflict situations. Local participation between local user groups in Madi valley and park staffs is also needed to reduce grazing along the southern border of the park. Details: Kathmandu, Nepal: WWF-Nepal Program, 2006. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/STF/2005-0013-014.2.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/STF/2005-0013-014.2.pdf Shelf Number: 128099 Keywords: Forest ManagementHuman-Animal ConflictTigersWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Yadav, N.P. Title: Forest Law Enforcement as an Underlying Driver of Forest Governance in Nepal Summary: Historically, forest of Nepal is exploited by rulers of the state for revenue generation and political interest. Although strong and protection oriented forest laws with judicial power to district forest officer has been formed but it was not enforced effectively, consequently deforestation and illegal logging continued. Since 1980 the participatory forestry emerged and restoration of forest cover in the hills and the relation of people and department of forest improved. DoF staff changed from policing to service providers. People oriented bylaws and guidelines prepared by the ministry of forest and several donors and NGOs involved in forestry sector for facilitating community based forest management. To some extent the process of community based forest management has brought positive impact considering the different dimension of forestry benefits. However over all forest governance is becoming poor due to weak forest law enforcement at different level. The annual deforestation rate and different form of illegality are increased and also foster corruption. Government mode of forest operation is command and control, hierarchical, bureaucratic and informal rules of the game is often take precedence. The outcome of this system became in favour of politically and economically powerful people. Local interests marginalised, passive forest management due to lack of specific plan, ‘timber men and politicians’ become de facto owners of the resource and state foresters become their agents–professionalism is undermined etc. The legal ownership on Nepal's forest is mainly lies communal and government authority with essence of common property that hinder good governance. The major characteristics of ‘good governance' are such as participatory decision-making process, accountability, transparency, responsive, effective and efficiency, equitable and inclusiveness which are weak in forestry institution because of vested interest of stakeholders. Over all the status of law enforcement for forest protection in Nepal is very weak; and legal instruments for penalties and punishment are largely ineffective. Weak forest law enforcement is an underlying driver of poor forest governance that causes forest degradation and corruption. The government mechanisms have been unable to control forest encroachment, illegal logging and wild-life poaching, which resulted in a substantial loss of forests cover and wild lives. The Quality of forest administration and plan based forest operations is important for good governance. To a great extent, the new concept is emerging to involve many more actors for improving forest governance. In particular there is a realization that plan based, multi-stakeholder processes and joint monitoring are key drivers to improve forest governance. The participation of multi-stakeholders in the process of decision making and implementation of forest operations is elements that support to improve forest governance and reduce corruption and crime in forestry sector. Details: Nepal: Forestry Nepal, 2013. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://www.forestrynepal.org/images/publications/Yadav_2012_forest_governance.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.forestrynepal.org/images/publications/Yadav_2012_forest_governance.pdf Shelf Number: 128101 Keywords: DeforestationForest ManagementIllegal LoggingWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (India)Wildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Tsioumanni, Elsa Title: Wildlife Legislation and the Empowerment of the Poor in Asia and Oceania Summary: This paper ia a comparative analysis of national wildlife legislation in Asia and Oceania, with the aim of identifying strengths and weaknesses of legal frameworks in the promotion of sustainable wildlife management and in allowing disadvantaged people, particularly indigenous and local communities, to directly benefit from it. Authored by Elsa Tsioumani and Elisa Morgera, this study formulates recommendations and proposes specific legal options to improve legal frameworks in the region, with a view to supporting environmental sustainability, socioeconomic development and the empowerment of the poor. Part II presents country studies on national legislation from twelve countries in Asia and Oceania, highlighting the main legal provisions affecting wildlife management and use by local communities and aiming at highlighting specific legal tools for pro-poor sustainable wildlife management Details: Rome: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 2010. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: FAO Legal Papers Online No. 83:: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://biodiversity-l.iisd.org/news/fao-legal-paper-wildlife-legislation-and-the-empowerment-of-the-poor-in-asia-and-oceania/ Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: http://biodiversity-l.iisd.org/news/fao-legal-paper-wildlife-legislation-and-the-empowerment-of-the-poor-in-asia-and-oceania/ Shelf Number: 128103 Keywords: Wildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Asia, Oceania)Wildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Patten, Ryan Title: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Paradigm Shift : A Grounded Theory Analysis of Law Enforcement Officers' Receptivity Toward Collaborative Problem Solving Summary: This dissertation utilizes a grounded theory approach to understanding in the exploration of the opinions and attitudes of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) law enforcement officers regarding their agencys effort to accomplish a paradigm shift toward collaborative problem solving to gain compliance with resource-protective regulations. While a laudable and timely goal, such a paradigm shift faces numerous internal and external barriers to successful implementation by the WDFW law enforcement division. By way of general context, over a century of natural resource rule-making and regulation by the federal government has angered many citizens in the American West, and this resentment creates difficulties for the WDFW and similar natural resource regulatory agencies as they attempt to utilize collaboration in the field. Although the use of collaboration has been on the rise in the United States since the 1970s, it is generally not yet the preferred method of natural resource conflict resolution. Additionally, paradigm shifts of the sort being dealt with here in American law enforcement agencies have been historically difficult to implement. In recent history, the effort to implement community-oriented policing (COP) has been confronted by numerous internal obstacles among the most important being officer resistance to change. The 43 WDFW law enforcement officers interviewed for this research study revealed that there remains a general lack of rank-and-file commitment to make use of collaboration to resolve contentious natural resource problems on the part of the officers. This lack of commitment would seem to result from two principal sources: the current reward system does not give due recognition to officer efforts to use collaboration, and very little communication takes place between veteran and rookie officers concerning the utility of collaboration in natural resource law enforcement work. To the extent that the WDFW is typical of other natural resource regulatory agencies, the lessons learned from this research study should be of interest to the many other public agencies seeking to make the paradigm shift from feared regulator to a trustworthy collaborative problem solver. Details: Pullman, WA: Washington State University, Program in Criminal Justice, 2006. 227p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 17, 2013 at: http://clbarchive.wsu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/482/r_patten_050106.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://clbarchive.wsu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/482/r_patten_050106.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 128394 Keywords: PartnershipsProblem SolvingWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (U.S.)Wildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) Title: International Trade in Wild Birds, and Related Bird Movements, in Latin America and the Caribbean. Summary: This report summarizes the results of a consultancy on market trade in live wild birds and related bird movements, in line with four FAO projects on Emergency Assistance for Early Detection and Prevention of Avian Influenza in 33 countries of the Caribbean, Central America, Andean and South Cone subregions. The survey aimed to assess the magnitude and dynamics of trade in wild birds, and the conditions under which local regulations are enforced. Each country participating in the projects received a survey form and instructions in its official language; statistics on international trade in wild birds were also analysed. Of the 33 countries consulted, 27 replied. The information gathered was compiled in a trade database, allowing the role of each country and region to be evaluated. Only four countries provided statistics, but it was possible to evaluate the trade volumes and dynamics of other countries using statistics from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) trade database. Of the 33 countries, Mexico is the main importer of wild birds originating in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Argentina, Guyana and Suriname are the main exporters, followed by Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. In the recent past, most native bird exports from these countries were exported to Europe. However, formal operations have been drastically reduced since the European Union (EU) imposed a ban on wild bird imports, resulting in closure of this important market. At present, legal trade is directed mainly to Mexico, followed by Asia and Africa. Mexico absorbs most wild bird imports from both within the region and elsewhere, and is not an active wild bird re-exporter, implying no further movements of exotic birds within the subregions covered by the survey. The majority of countries declared taking precautionary measures by preventing the import of birds originating from countries in which avian influenza (AI) has been reported. Although most countries have animal health regulations and procedures in place, not all of them have specific guidelines for the early detection and control of AI, and not all require animal health documentation as a condition for trade. Owing to low trade volumes, many countries do not apply quarantine of imported birds, but quarantine is required in countries where sanitary measures are strict. Most countries consider that the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) entry is low or medium. In spite of this, countries expressed particular concern about the consequences of illegal trade and migratory birds on the dispersal of AI. Details: Rome: FAO, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Animal Production and Health Paper No. 166: Accessed May 20, 2013 at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i0708e/i0708e00.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Central America URL: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i0708e/i0708e00.pdf Shelf Number: 128756 Keywords: BirdsIllegal Wildlife Trade (Caribbean, Latin America)Wildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Scharf, Katie Title: Strategies for Enforcing Wildlife Trade Regulations in Ulaanbaatar- Mongolia Summary: This report reviews and recommends strategies to regulate the trade of wildlife through Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar is an ideal site to launch an effort to support improved enforcement of wildlife trade regulations. The city is the seat of Mongolia’s government, media markets, and civil society, as well as the center of the wildlife trade. Some of the country’s largest raw materials markets are located to the east and west of the city. Ulaanbaatar’s many road inspection points, its train station, and its airport are all strategic sites for enforcing trade regulation. A comprehensive — and sometimes internally contradictory — framework of “species-oriented” regulations provides different penalties and fines based on the species hunted. “Trade-oriented” regulations assign criminal or administrative liability for a limited range of market activities, including transport, export, and advertising of wildlife products. At the risk of repeating the efforts of a legislative gap analysis of wildlife-related regulation (recently completed for by Wingard & Odgerel in 2006), this report will not propose legal reforms, but will assess enforcement strategies available under the existing laws. Responsibility for enforcement of wildlife trade regulations is distributed among half a dozen different agencies. Inspectors (state and municipal), rangers, and customs officials enforce administrative penalties for minor violations. Criminal-level violations must be referred to the Mongolian National Police, who then turn cases over to the state General Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution in any of soum or aimag-level courts. Getting these different agencies to collaborate on investigations, share information, and harmonize confiscation procedures must be a major focus of any successful enforcement support strategy. After reviewing the existing legal framework and the present state of enforcement, this report will discuss specific recommendations for improving wildlife trade regulation enforcement. These include near-term measures (market surveys and “ride-alongs” with enforcement officials) to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the existing enforcement system. Public awareness strategies targeted towards Mongolians, foreign tourists, and tour operators are discussed, as well as the need for further legal research on the adjudication of wildlife crimes, and possible collaboration with Mongolian human rights lawyers, whose approach of monitoring mining-related litigation and petitioning to have cases reopened or reinstated could be applied successfully in the wildlife context. Recommended measures for improving inter-agency coordination include: establishing a database for enforcement information collection and sharing; publicizing the Mongolian State Specialized Inspection Agency’s *SSIA+ wildlife hotline; and creating a pocket guide to wildlife trade enforcement. The recommendations in this report build on prior research, including the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Silent Steppe report (2005), and a recent training session conducted for Mongolian customs and law enforcement officials by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service [USFWS] and TRAFFIC International (2006). Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2009. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/WCSResources/file_20111006_161059_Strategies+for+enforcing+wildlife+trade+regulations+in+Ulaanbaatar-+Mongolia_BVSgF.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Mongolia URL: http://s3.amazonaws.com/WCSResources/file_20111006_161059_Strategies+for+enforcing+wildlife+trade+regulations+in+Ulaanbaatar-+Mongolia_BVSgF.pdf Shelf Number: 128906 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimesWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: Enforcement Not Extinction: Zero Tolerance on Tiger Trade Summary: The International Tiger Forum held in November 2010 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, provides an exciting opportunity. Convened by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, leaders of Tiger Range Countries (TRC) endorsed a declaration and Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) to double the tiger population by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger, setting the tone for future national and global efforts. Many of the strategies advocated in the Forum have been proposed repeatedly since the last Year of the Tiger. Some are older still. On paper they appear objective, logical and scientific – yet governments have failed to implement them thoroughly or consistently. Will this time be any different? Can world leaders rise to the challenge and deliver meaningful action, not simply fine words? Drawing on EIA’s experience of investigating the illegal trade in consumer countries, this position paper highlights the key recommendations on law enforcement that have consistently been made over the years and examines the possible underlying reasons why they have not yet been implemented. Accepting that these enforcement recommendations are still key to the survival of the wild tiger, we identify actions that governments can take to overcome those obstacles and demonstrate real progress and change on the ground. We call upon governments to prioritise the following: • Secure greater involvement of police and Customs officers in tiger and other Asian big cat conservation • Reduce demand for tiger and other Asian big cat parts • Expand the use of intelligence-led enforcement in combating tiger trade • Improve international cooperation to disrupt transnational criminal networks • Continue with reform of judicial processes • Increase resources to combat wildlife crime • Improve the motivation of enforcement personnel • Tackle corruption in wildlife crime Details: London: EIA, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2013 at: http://www.eia-international.org.php5-20.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/reports210-1.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.eia-international.org.php5-20.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/reports210-1.pdf Shelf Number: 128960 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeOrganized CrimeTigersWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: In Cold Blood: Combating Organised Wildlife Crime Summary: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has been documenting and analyzing environmental crimes and abuses that impact our natural world for three decades. The objective has been to motivate governments to implement and enforce policies, laws and practices to protect species and habitats threatened by trade and unsustainable exploitation. EIA's modus operandi includes undercover investigations into the criminals perpetrating these crimes. In the 1980s, EIA documented the role of the Poon family, a sophisticated and organised transnational criminal network engaged in trafficking ivory from Africa, via the Middle East to east Asia. Over a decade later, EIA's analysis of individuals and companies implicated in the seizure of more than seven tonnes of ivory in Singapore in 2002 revealed that members of the Poon network were still involved in the illegal ivory trade. To this day, none of the key players involved in the 2002 seizure have been prosecuted. A lack of effective enforcement to disrupt the international syndicates involved in wildlife crime is a common and persistent problem. This is often due to a lack of investment and commitment from the highest levels of government to deliver a proactive, multi-agency, targeted and effective response. The current unprecedented level of political attention given to wildlife crime represents a crucial opportunity to turn previous commitments to combat organised wildlife crime into action. The international community must now ensure that the rule of law is fully applied to wildlife crime, and that enforcement techniques honed in other areas of serious crime are used to dismantle wildlife trafficking syndicates. This report features case studies that illustrate the successes and shortcomings in efforts to disrupt criminal networks, prosecute criminal masterminds and confiscate the proceeds of wildlife crime. The role of serious and organized criminal networks in wildlife crime is not an overnight phenomenon, but in the face of chronic government failure to treat it seriously, networks have persisted and prospered. Yet there are also examples where enforcement has been effective. Many frontline officers take great risks to curb wildlife poaching and smuggling. Specialised agencies and international organisations are yielding results. This dedication must be backed by political commitment to turn the tide against the current escalation of wildlife crime. Now is the time for enforcement, not extinction. Details: London: EIA, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2014 at: http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-In-Cold-Blood-FINAL.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-In-Cold-Blood-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 132284 Keywords: Animal PoachingOrganized CrimeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimesWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Sellar, John M. Title: Policing the Trafficking of Wildlife: Is there anything to learn from law enforcement responses to drug and firearms trafficking? Summary: The "tipping point" on wildlife crime is fast approaching: the extinction of key species and irreparable damage to the environment are both imminent possibilities in the near future. Growing demand for wildlife products in key markets has triggered a professionalization and aggression in poaching which is unparalleled. Armed with advanced weaponry, surveillance equipment and facilitated by extensive corruption, the criminal market in wildlife crime is now one of the most significant illicit markets in the world. Key species such as the rhino are being slaughtered at record levels. Lesser known animals are traded at a scale that is almost incomprehensible. This is no longer just a criminal act: it is warfare. The law enforcement community, at national and international levels, has long been engaged in what are described as 'wars' against narcotic and firearm trafficking. These two forms of criminality share many of the same features as those of wildlife trafficking, particularly as all three involve: the harvesting or acquisition of material or products in one State; usually require illicit export from the same State; the subsequent clandestine movement of the material or products across further national borders (regularly many borders and also intercontinentally); illicit import to the State of destination; and final delivery to customers and consumers. This paper is not an attempt to determine whether battles have been lost or won in each of these wars. Rather, it seeks to describe some of the strategies adopted by individual nations and international alliances to respond to drug and firearms trafficking, the manner in which they have rallied their troops, and examines whether illegal trade in wildlife can be thought of as a 'common enemy' and, thus, addressed in a similar fashion. The assessment and findings presented in this report are drawn from the extensive experience of the author, a law enforcement professional with over four decades of experience. The author held the role of Chief of Law Enforcement for CITES, and during 14 years with CITES he conducted 234 missions to 66 countries, assessing enforcement in the field and designing strategies to tackle wildlife trafficking. Thus while this study may not draw upon comprehensive research, it nonetheless presents an unparalleled expert perspective of the global state of affairs. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2014. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2014 at: http://www.rhinoowners.org/WYSI/assets/SRP%20DOCS/Global%20Initiative%20-%20Wildlife%20Trafficking%20Law%20Enforcement%20-%20Feb%202014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.rhinoowners.org/WYSI/assets/SRP%20DOCS/Global%20Initiative%20-%20Wildlife%20Trafficking%20Law%20Enforcement%20-%20Feb%202014.pdf Shelf Number: 133424 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimesWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Milliken, Tom Title: Illegal Trade in Ivory and Rhino Horn: As Assessment to Improve Law Enforcement Under the Wildlife TRAPS Project Summary: Illegal rhino horn trade has reached the highest levels since the early 1990s, and illegal trade in ivory increased by nearly 300 percent from 1998 to 2011, according to a new report by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partner TRAFFIC. The report, Illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn: an assessment to improve law enforcement, is a key step to achieving USAID's vision to adapt and deploy a range of development tools and interventions to significantly reduce illegal wildlife trafficking. The report was prepared by the wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC in partnership with USAID. The assessment uses robust analysis to identify capacity gaps and key intervention points in countries combating wildlife trafficking. Seizure data indicate that "the fundamental trade dynamic now lies between Africa and Asia," according to the report. In China and Thailand, elephant ivory is fashioned into jewelry and carved into other decorative items, while wealthy consumers in Vietnam use rhino horn as a drug which they mistakenly believe cure hangovers and detoxify the body. Rhinos and elephants are under serious poaching pressure throughout Africa, with even previously safe populations collapsing: Central Africa's forest elephants have been reduced by an estimated 76 percent over the past 12 years while in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, elephant numbers have fallen from 70,000 in 2007 to only 13,000 by late 2013. A record 1004 rhinos were poached in 2013 in South Africa alone - a stark contrast to the 13 animals poached there in 2007 before the latest crisis began. Record quantities of ivory were seized worldwide between 2011 and 2013, with an alarming increase in the frequency of large-scale ivory seizures (500 kg or more) since 2000. Preliminary data already show more large-scale ivory seizures in 2013 than in the previous 25 years. Although incomplete, 2013 raw data already represent the greatest quantity of ivory in these seizures in more than 25 years. Both rhino horn and ivory trafficking are believed to function as Asian-run, African-based operations, with the syndicates increasingly relying on sophisticated technology to run their operations. In order to disrupt and apprehend the individuals behind them, the global response needs to be equally sophisticated. "There's no single solution to addressing the poaching crisis in Africa, and while the criminals master-minding and profiting from the trafficking have gotten smarter, so too must enforcement agencies, who need to improve collaborative efforts in order to disrupt the criminal syndicates involved in this illicit trade," says Nick Ahlers, the leader of the Wildlife TRAPS Project. Rhino horn is often smuggled by air, using international airports as transit points between source countries in Africa and demand countries in Asia. Since 2009, the majority of ivory shipments have involved African seaports, increasingly coming out of East Africa. As fewer than 5 percent of export containers are examined in seaports, wildlife law enforcement relies greatly on gathering and acting on intelligence to detect illegal ivory shipments. The report recommends further developing coordinated, specialized intelligence units to disrupt organized criminal networks by identifying key individuals and financial flows and making more high level arrests. Also critically important are improved training, law enforcement technology, and monitoring judiciary processes at key locations in Africa and Asia. Details: Cambridge, UK; TRAFFIC International; Washington, DC: USAID, 2014. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: A Traffic Report: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://www.traffic.org/storage/W-TRAPS-Elephant-Rhino-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.traffic.org/storage/W-TRAPS-Elephant-Rhino-report.pdf Shelf Number: 133456 Keywords: Animal PoachingCriminal NetworksIllegal TradeIvoryRhinosSmugglingWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Criminal Justice Response to wildlife and forest crime in Lao PDR Summary: Laos in a landlocked country of about 5.7 million people made up of 49 broad ethnic groups. Approximately eighty per cent of the population is located in rural areas and many depend on agriculture and natural resources for survival. The country is bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. It is governed in the framework of a single socialist political party, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPPR). Laos is a land rich in biological diversity and home to unique and rare species of flora and fauna. Many of these species are listed under Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These flora species include high value timber species such as Aquilaria crassna and Aquilaria baillonii commonly known as Argarwood (Appendix I) and Dalbergia cochinchinensis commonly known as Siamese Rosewood (Appendix III) and rare orchids such as the Paphiopedilum appletonianum commonly known as Appleton's Paphiopedilum (Appendix I). Some of the better known CITES listed fauna species found in Laos include the Tiger (Appendix I), Leopard (Appendix I), Clouded Leopard (Appendix I), Elephant (Appendix I), Sun Bear (Appendix I), Asiatic Black Bear (Appendix I), Pangolin (Appendix II) and several turtles including the Indochinese Box Turtle (Appendix I). Despite their protection under CITES and National Laws, Lao forests have undergone extensive commercial logging over the last 30 years with forest cover dropping from 75% in 1979 to 40% in 2009. In 2014 a government initiated planting program has increased forest cover to just over 50% but the country has a long way to go to reach its goal of 65% cover by 2015 and 70% by 2020. There is growing evidence that transnational organised crime groups are contributing to a significant degree to forest exploitation and the Lao government has come under harsh criticism for its failure to control the illegal logging of its forests. Many of Laos' fauna species have fared no better and continue to be subjected to illegal trafficking to feed markets in neighbouring China and Vietnam. The objective of this study therefore is to determine what role the criminal justice system in Laos is playing in the struggle against the illegal trade in timber and wildlife. It is based on a field visit to Laos, a review of the available primary and secondary data, interviews with key interlocutors and a roundtable meeting of senior officers from the key government departments, IGO's and NGO's held in Vientiane in September 2014. During the meeting in September the current version of the report was circulated to all participants both in Lao language and in English to solicit comments and feedback. The presentations of the senior officers at the September meeting were eventually incorporated into what has become the final version of the report. Interviews were mainly conducted with key players of the criminal justice systems such as prosecutors, police, customs and environment/forestry officials involved in law enforcement. Details: New York: UNODC, 2014. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//2014/10/trade-timber/Criminal_Justice_Responses_to_the_Illegal_Trade_in_Timber_in_South_East_Asia_v7.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Laos URL: https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//2014/10/trade-timber/Criminal_Justice_Responses_to_the_Illegal_Trade_in_Timber_in_South_East_Asia_v7.pdf Shelf Number: 133831 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOrganized CrimeWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Laos)Wildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: United Nations Environment Programme Title: Emerging Technologies: Smarter ways to fight wildlife crime Summary: The illegal trade of animals - for luxury goods, traditional medicine or cultural ceremonies, pets, entertainment, and even research - is a major threat to wildlife conservation and welfare (Baker et al., 2013). Poachers and illegal traders use highly sophisticated and rapidly changing techniques to avoid detection. To keep pace with the "war on wildlife", conservation and law enforcement communities have started to adopt cutting-edge military tools and techniques. High-tech equipment can magnify counter-poaching efforts without requiring armies of rangers or risking lives. Tools include acoustic traps, mobile technology, mikrokopters, radio frequency identification tags, encrypted data digital networks, camera traps, DNA testing, radio collars, metal scanners, and satellite imagery. Details: Sioux Falls, SD: UNEP, Global Environmental Alert Service, 2015. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2015 at: http://na.unep.net/geas/archive/pdfs/GEAS_Jun2014_EmergingTechnologies_illegalwildlife.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://na.unep.net/geas/archive/pdfs/GEAS_Jun2014_EmergingTechnologies_illegalwildlife.pdf Shelf Number: 135236 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Duffy, Rosaleen Title: Mapping Donors: Key Areas for Tackling Illegal Wildlife Trade (Africa and Asia) Summary: The wildlife trade is rapidly becoming a major international priority for governments, NGOs and private philanthropists (for example see White House, 2014). This is evidenced in the recent increase in funding made available for wildlife trade related projects. Recent examples include: USAID has committed US$40 million, Howard G. Buffett Foundation has committed US$25 million to South Africa for rhino protection, The Clinton Global Initiative has pledged to raise US$80 million (US$10 million from US Government already) and the UK Government has identified it as a major policy, with the announcement of a L10 million fund for tackling the trade. The authors mapped the donors and projects following a review of secondary and grey literature as well as relevant websites. However, such a search can only ever be considered as indicative rather than comprehensive: the range of organisations involved in conservation initiatives is complex and extensive. Further it is difficult to disaggregate projects that deal with specific species conservation (e.g. elephant or rhino) more generally, from those that specifically tackle the illegal wildlife trade - there is some inevitable overlap. The precise figures involved are also difficult to determine because of double counting, or confidentiality regarding donations. Finally, there are a number of ongoing projects which cannot be listed; they are necessarily confidential because they are aimed at uncovering various aspects of an illegal trade. From our initial assessment it appears there are four main areas: 1. Two types of funding for demand reduction initiatives: projects and campaigns 2. Funding related to rural development/CBNRM approaches is not well recognised as an effective policy response 3. Funding related to intelligence gathering, surveillance, capacity building in crime scene management is increasing as a priority 4. Funding related to counter-insurgency/security is an increasing priority Following on from this summary of current initiatives the authors were able to identify areas of weakness or gaps. 1. Need for greater understanding of the implications for community relations of a 'crime/enforcement' approach 2. Need for greater levels of intelligence sharing across states and within states 3. Rangers often coping with poor equipment and working conditions 4. The main approach to understanding the illegal wildlife trade is as a criminal activity rather than an issue of wider forms of (under)development 5. Little or no support for communities on how to resist intimidation 6. Need for capacity building in investigation skills/crime scene management 7. Need for governance related initiatives that address corruption, especially in state agencies. 8. Little understanding of the precise dynamics of demand markets/consumer motivation 9. Lack of attention to pre-emptive efforts in demand reduction and anti-poaching 10. Patterns of funding differ substantially between and within states 11. Little attention paid to transit states/networks Details: London: UK Department for International Development, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/18868/1/EoD_HD151_June2014_Mapping_Donors%20Final%20Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/18868/1/EoD_HD151_June2014_Mapping_Donors%20Final%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135813 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal TradeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trade |
Author: Rosero, Oswaldo R. Title: An Analysis of the Law Enforcement Chain in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape Summary: The Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape is located at the far eastern edge of the tropical Pacific Ocean, to the south of Costa Rica and Panama, and to the west of Colombia and mainland Ecuador. The Seascape is naturally demarcated by the convergence of three tectonic plates. The region extends to the west as far as the Cocos Ridge, a long submarine mountain chain running from Costa Rica in the north, to the Galapagos Islands over 1,500 km to the southwest. Another chain, the Carnegie Ridge, which runs for 1,000 km, from the Galapagos Islands to the coast of Ecuador, denotes its southern limits. Within these limits lies the Panama Bight, with depths greater than 4,000 meters. Marine currents in this region are complex, moving water from the Central American coast towards the Eastern Tropical Pacific, where it flows slowly to the west to join the North Equatorial Current. Another current affecting the region is the North Equatorial Countercurrent, which brings surface water to the east. The regional waters are warm (maximum temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit), but in some areas the temperature can drop to 25 degrees Celsius during periods of upwelling. This Seascape boasts diverse endemic marine and terrestrial species, and displays a high degree of ecological connectivity. It possesses complex ecological relationships due to the dynamic convergence of marine currents that affect the migration and distribution of many species. The islands in the region are home to the most extensive coral reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and some of these coral species are endemic to the region. The Seascape is a migratory destination for several threatened and endangered species including the blue whale, humpback whale, and the leatherback turtle. Due to its biological productivity, the Eastern Tropical Pacific is of key importance for tuna fisheries (yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye). The region is vulnerable to degradation as a result of the following human activities: - Illegal fishing. - Overexploitation of coastal marine resources. - Inadequately regulated tourism growth. - Risk of pollution from commercial vessels (marine transport). - Habitat loss and degradation. - Introduction of exotic species. The region is periodically subjected to extreme climatic events (El Nino - Southern Oscillation), which have negative impacts on resident and migratory species (but sometimes provide new opportunities). In recognition of its high level of biodiversity, biological productivity and the ecological value of many sites in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape, each one of its four constituent nations has established marine protected areas (MPAs) within their respective waters. - In 1978, Costa Rice declared Cocos Island a National Park with 24 km2 of terrestrial area and 1,974 km2 of marine area. - In Panama, Coiba National Park, with a terrestrial area of 537 km2 and a marine area of 2,165 km2, has existed in its current form since 2004. - Colombia has two marine protected areas in the Pacific: the Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary and the Gorgona Natural National Park, designated in 1995 and 1993 respectively. Malpelo includes 3.5 km2 of terrestrial habitat and 8,572 km2 of marine area, whereas Gorgona includes 16 km2 of terrestrial habitat and 598 km2 of marine area. - The Galapagos Marine Reserve, which covers an area approximately 133,000 km2, is the largest marine protected area in the region. The origin of the Galapagos Marine Reserve is the Special Law for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Province of Galapagos of 1998. It extends 40 nautical miles from a baseline around the farthest points of the Galapagos Archipelago In recognition of their great ecological value, their value as endangered species habitats, and for their natural beauty, four of the five MPAs (with the exception of Gorgona) have been designated as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites. UNESCO first recognized Cocos Island National Park in 1997, then the Galapagos Marine Reserve in 2001, Coiba National Park in 2005, and Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary in 2006. All these islands and their surrounding ocean share certain features - their isolation from the mainland, their endemic species, and their relatively pristine state of protection and conservation. In 2004, the governments of Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Colombia signed an agreement to create the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR). The main objective of this agreement is the conservation and sustainable development of the 211 million hectare region which contains the aforementioned MPAs. The CMAR initiative is supported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), UNESCO, Conservation International (CI), the IUCN among others. With over 80 NGOs, research organizations, local community groups, and representatives from the private sector particpating, CI's Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape (ETPS) initiative has promoted regional cooperation for the training, education and conservation of marine resources. Study Objectives The main objective of this study is to identify and evaluate the critical factors required for effective law enforcement in each MPA of the Seascape. The specific objectives are: 1. To determine the main strengths and weaknesses of the law enforcement chain in each MPA. 2. To prioritize a series of recommendations to improve the enforcement chain in each MPA. 3. To identify regional initiatives to strengthen cooperation between member states; in particular regarding the conservation of migratory species. Details: San Francisco, CA: WildAid, 2010. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2016 at: http://wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/Law%20Enforcement%20Chain%20ETPS_0.pdf Year: 2010 Country: South America URL: http://wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/Law%20Enforcement%20Chain%20ETPS_0.pdf Shelf Number: 138709 Keywords: FishingIllegal FishingWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: United States Agency for International Development Title: Measuring Impact - Measuring Efforts to Combat Wildlife Crime: A Toolkit for Improving Action and Accountability Summary: Killing protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products (hereafter wildlife crime, but see Box 1) are among the most severe threats to global biodiversity. Globally, hundreds of millions of individual animals belonging to hundreds of species are the targets of illegal harvesting and trade. Wildlife crime not only threatens the survival of focal species, but may also significantly alter ecosystem function and stability when one or more species are substantially depleted or even made locally extinct. High-value wildlife products are often trafficked by organized criminal syndicates and are known to finance violent non-state actors including terrorist groups and unsanctioned militias. Armed conflict can exacerbate wildlife killing and trafficking, and trafficking is frequently associated with other forms of crime such as money laundering (Loucks et al. 2009; UNODC 2012). Additionally, wildlife criminals generate insecurity in rural communities and are responsible for killing park rangers, which hurts morale and recruitment of park staff and reduces tourism and associated revenue needed for conservation and community development. For developing countries, loss of revenue from trade, taxes, and/or tourism can be significant and particularly damaging (Rosen & Smith 2010). The illegal trade in wildlife can also introduce and/or spread pathogens endemic to the exporting regions or transmitted during transit (Gomez & Aguirre 2008). This poses a major risk to human and livestock health, with implications for food security, commerce, and labor productivity (consider recent outbreaks of Ebola virus, SARS, and avian influenza). Despite focused efforts often lasting several decades, wildlife crime remains a global threat (Broad & Damania 2010; Sharma et al. 2014). The importance of wildlife crime as a threat to conservation and development has attracted the attention of governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and multilateral organizations all over the world. Strategies to combat wildlife crime depend on accurate and reliable knowledge about the status of focal species and the basic attributes of illegal wildlife supply chains. However, the clandestine nature of this activity, its geographic spread, the large number of people involved, and the size of the trade make analysis of status and trends, as well as measuring progress in combating it, a challenge (Blundell & Mascia 2005; UNODC 2012). A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report concludes that many of the available figures on wildlife crime "are the result of guesswork rather than of systematic analysis" (UNODC 2012). Global knowledge about wildlife crime remains fragmented and lacking in common standards, which hinders the design, implementation, and monitoring of strategies to combat it. USAID has a long history of investing in programs that support compliance with and enforcement of laws and regulations to protect wildlife, as well as other strategies aimed at decreasing the threats to conservation and development stemming from wildlife crime. In support of President Obama's Executive Order 13648 and the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, as well as associated funding and directives for USAID to increase programming on these issues, the Office of Forestry and Biodiversity in USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3/FAB) identified a need to adopt or develop robust indicators with which to track progress on USAID's investments in combating wildlife crime (CWC) and gauge the effectiveness of different approaches. Details: Washington, DC: USAID, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2016 at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQR6.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQR6.pdf Shelf Number: 139090 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Ferguson, Alan Title: Final Evaluation of the Cardamon Mountains Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries Project Summary: The Cardamom Mountains Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries Project in southwest Cambodia comprises two sub-projects: - Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF) project, funded by United Nations Foundation (UNF) and Conservation International (CI) and implemented by CI and the Forestry Administration from July 2001 to September 2004; and - Cardamom Mountain Wildlife Sanctuaries (CMWS) project in Phnom Aural and Phnom Samkos sanctuaries, funded by UNF, GEF and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) and implemented by FFI and Ministry of Environment from April 2003 to April 2007. The CMWS Project had five major planned Outcomes for the wildlife sanctuaries: - Improved planning, management and regulatory frameworks - Improved governmental operational capacity - Communities engaged in the protection, management and sustainable use of natural resources - Secured international recognition and increased national and local awareness - Established a long-term financing mechanism The Final Evaluation was undertaken from February 19 - March 16, 2007. It focused on the CMWS, with only general review of the CCPF. The evaluation involved individual and group interviews, an initial workshop to discuss project design issues, and a larger wrap-up meeting to discuss preliminary findings. In total, 95 people were consulted. The study method was guided by the evaluation Terms of Reference and included identifying Indicators, preparing Evaluation Questions to guide interviews and meetings, and undertaking participatory discussions. The challenging startup conditions for this project should be duly noted: the project area is a former stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, settlements of indigenous people and ex-Khmer Rouge families, the wildlife sanctuary designation was unknown, traditional use of forest resources was commonplace, the area is large and difficult to monitor, and both corruption and lack of respect for the law were widespread in government and the military due to the poor salaries and lack of institutional modernization. These baseline conditions presented major impediments to introducing conservation. The two-project concept of the CCPF and CMWS has involved separate sub-projects that have different clients, approaches, methods and databases The project was structured in accordance with the mandate and boundaries of the wildlife sanctuaries under DNCP-MoE jurisdiction, and those of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest under FA jurisdiction. The original idea of synchronizing the DNCP/MoE - FFI and FA-CI projects was constrained due to differences in start-up dates, and the limited overall coordination of the projects. The different time frames adversely affected results and potential synergies. A brief review of follow-up to the CMWS Mid Term Review concluded that the project has undertaken reasonable action to address most of the MTR recommendations. The lack of action on a project Steering Committee and institutional coordination are the major outstanding issues. Details: Phnom Penh, Cambodia: UNDP Cambodia, 2007. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2016 at: https://erc.undp.org Year: 2007 Country: Cambodia URL: https://erc.undp.org Shelf Number: 138841 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Dangol, Buddhi Ratna Title: Illegal Wildlife Trade in Nepal: A Case Study from Kathmandu Valley Summary: Illegal wildlife trade is burgeoning issues in the world. Many research and reports have revealed that an extent of illegal trade is expanding despite there are national and international laws including conventions. This study provides a general overview of illegal wildlife trade such as wildlife species, suspects and convicted perpetrators, and law enforcement in Kathmandu Valley. All information is based on wildlife seizures and arrests in the valley of the period from 2003 to 2013. The information comprises of 167 wildlife crime cases against 414 individuals representing from 52 districts among 75 districts of Nepal. All the cases have been prosecuted under National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and District Forest Offices have adjudicated over the cases as quasi-judge. Though there are wide ranges between minimum and maximum punishments in the law, court decision of some cases has gone beyond the laws such as under and over law punishments. There seems a need of law amendment for covering all type illegal wildlife trade and maintain equal justice for all, which will strengthen to fight against illegal wildlife trade in the country. Details: Oslo: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 2015. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui//bitstream/id/335210/Dangol_2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Nepal URL: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui//bitstream/id/335210/Dangol_2015.pdf Shelf Number: 138927 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife Trade Wildlife Crimes Wildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Columbia, Richard H. Title: H.R. 69 The Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2013. A Comprehensive first-year implementation strategy for H.R.69 Summary: Earlier this year the U.S. government was forced to subsidize the commercial fishing industry in New England by $33 million, after the region's cod stocks fell to their lowest numbers in forty years. In November of 2014, the government proceeded to halt cod fishing in New England entirely for six months. At first glance, it may be difficult to perceive how the situation could get so out of hand; cod fishing is an important industry in the region and New England annually enacts new fisheries legislation to protect the valuable fish stocks. However, these regulations have proven inadequate in addressing one of New England's (and the world's) most serious issues: illegal fishing. It is estimated that roughly 24 percent of New England cod is harvested illegally, which amounts to revenue to illegal fishers of roughly $13 million. Such a high profit potential, coupled with a distinct lack of regulations enforcement by agencies like the Coast Guard has made the lure of fishing illegally more desirable than following the rules for many fishers all over the world, and the prevalence of illegal fishing has had many consequences. Not only are fish stocks dwindling and effecting global food security and the food chain, but without being able to accurately count the amount of fish caught, policymakers cannot regulate the fishing industry sustainably. Without stepping up enforcement and coordinating policies, illegal fishing will continue to ravage the fishing industry. Illegal fishing often occurs in conjunction with unreported and unregulated fishing, and together these three exploitations continue to drive unsustainable fishing practices, costing the world between $10 and $23 billion annually.1 In the U.S., the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2013, known formally as H.R.69, has been proposed as a solution to fight illegal fishing in U.S. waters. This Act intends to streamline enforcement mechanisms to more effectively prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as increase enforcement and compliance with U.S. and international fishery regulations. The following report presents a program design and first year implementation plan for H.R.69 that will successfully deter IUU fishing in the U.S. The key forces that drive IUU fishing are financial gain and the relative ease of fishing undetected. This program targets these drivers directly by removing the financial incentive to fish illegally as well as increasing tracking and monitoring of fishing vessels. By increasing fines and penalties for IUU violations and equipping all commercial fishing vessels with satellite tracking systems, the program ensures that other U.S. fisheries do not suffer the same fate as New England's cod. In its first year, the program focuses on adding new staff resources to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) using the "20/20" plan. This plan is designed to achieve a long-term goal of decreasing illegal fishing by 20 percent through increasing investigations and enforcement personnel by 20 percent. These additions in staff significantly shape the program budget, which totals a net of about $39 million. To put this in perspective, illegal fishing cost the U.S. $46 million in lost revenue and subsidies in New England alone in 2014, making illegal fishing enforcement a financially sound choice to maintaining the status quo. Together with the program design, an ongoing program evaluation system has been developed to measure success and incorporate necessary changes, creating feedback loop. This feedback loop provides performance measurement information throughout the year, allowing NOAA and the USCG to know quickly if they're on track toward their year-end 20 percent goal, and thus to make changes if necessary. A crucial aspect of the program is the collaborative relationship between NOAA and the USCG, which will ensure that implementation of H.R. 69 uses tracking and monitoring data in combination with increased investigations to establish targeted enforcement mechanisms that deter IUU fishing. In doing so, the program will not only dissuade IUU fishing, but also guarantee continuous improvements for U.S. fisheries-ultimately creating a sustainable fishing industry. But before delving into the specifics of the program design and first year implementation process, it's important to have a full, contextual understanding of illegal fishing and its global impacts. Details: New York: Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, 2014. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2016 at: http://mpaenvironment.ei.columbia.edu/files/2015/01/Final-Report-H.R.-69.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://mpaenvironment.ei.columbia.edu/files/2015/01/Final-Report-H.R.-69.pdf Shelf Number: 139105 Keywords: FisheriesFishing IndustryIllegal FishingWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Waterland, Shelley Title: Illegal Wildlife Trade Review, Malawi Summary: An exponential increase in the scale and nature of the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) globally has left governments, policy makers and conservationists lagging far behind the perpetrators of the crime. In many countries, criminals are shipping enormous quantities of high value products such as ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scales largely untouched by ineffective enforcement efforts. Given significant black market prices for wildlife products, and woeful detection and prosecution rates for wildlife offences, it is not surprising that organised crime networks have turned their attention to IWT. The rewards for wildlife crime, in most cases, far exceed the risks. This situation is true in Malawi, as with several other countries. However, Malawi for a long time has remained largely under the radar of those trying to combat IWT, due to its small size and relatively small numbers of wildlife. This Review of Illegal Wildlife Trade in Malawi used the ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit to analyse wildlife crime data, wildlife legislation, enforcement capacity and agencies, judiciary and prosecution services and the drivers of wildlife crime. The findings are comprehensive and show that although Malawi is setting some excellent examples and making some crucial progressive steps - e.g. being signatory to several wildlife conservation Agreements and Declarations and establishing an Inter-Agency Committee on Combating Wildlife Crime (IACCWC) - there is still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done if Malawi is to effectively combat IWT and rid itself of wildlife criminals. Details: Lilongwe, Malawi: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, 2015. 251p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: http://www.lilongwewildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/IWT-Review-Malawi.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Malawi URL: http://www.lilongwewildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/IWT-Review-Malawi.pdf Shelf Number: 139271 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeOrganized CrimeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Henson, David W. Title: Wildlife Law Enforcement in Sub-Saharan African Protected Areas A Review of Best Practices Summary: Unprecedented levels of poaching of elephants, rhinos and other high value charismatic species across Africa is severely threatening the future of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit. As poaching groups increase in size, number and sophistication, it is more important than ever that law enforcement responses in protected areas are robust, reliable, and effective. A strategy to combat this crisis must address root causes, such as international demand for ivory and rhino horn, as well as drivers and enabling conditions, such as poverty and the lack of livelihood options for rural communities, corruption and weak governance. Further, in addition to direct poaching threats, the loss of habitat to agriculture and natural resource extraction and a growing human population, particularly around protected areas, will increasingly threaten the survival of elephant and rhino populations. Therefore, conservation of these species must take a holistic, long-term approach. While improved law enforcement in protected areas is just one element of this approach, it is an essential component and can achieve significant results in the short to medium-term. This report aims to contribute to the international effort to combat wildlife crime in Sub-Saharan African protected areas by providing a systematic and evidence-based review of law enforcement practices that have proved to be effective in different situations, and by identifying emerging best practice. Details: Cambridge, UK and Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 2016. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2016 at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-058.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-058.pdf Shelf Number: 147853 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Tuan Do, Anh Title: Measuring the effectiveness of the enforcement of organised wildlife trade crime : a comparative assessment between Vietnam and England and Wales Summary: In recent decades, the public has become increasingly aware that the many beautiful and varied forms of endangered wildlife species are an irreplaceable part of the natural system of the earth that must be protected for this and the next generations to come. Today, this is of more concern than ever because of the rapid rate of wildlife extinction around 27 thousand wildlife species being disappeared yearly. At this rate, one third to two thirds of all wildlife species are expected to be lost during the second half of the present century which would be equal to the total past extinctions. Meanwhile, there is much evidence to affirm that, next to habitat destruction, illegal trade offers the greatest threat to world's rarest wildlife species. Each year, about 350 million wildlife species of fauna and flora are traded on average, irrespective of international law enforcement efforts. Vietnam and England and Wales are CITES country members, both have made a lot of attempts to protect endangered wildlife species, laws relating to crime and also powers provided to law enforcement agencies have been made however they are still in danger and need both countries to do more. Details: Bristol, UK: Bristol law School, University of the West of England, 2010. 420p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 8, 2016 at: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.525193 Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.525193 Shelf Number: 140241 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Stoner, Sarah Title: Briefing Document: Reduced to skin and bones re-examined : An analysis of Tiger seizures from 13 range countries from 2000-2015. Summary: Illegal trade and the trafficking of Tiger Panthera tigris, as well as their parts, products and derivatives, and the poaching which supplies it, is the most immediate threat to the survival of wild Tigers. A new minimum estimate of the number of Tigers that now exist in the wild of over 3890 was released by WWF in April 2016. Much of this change stems from the release of new national surveys results in a number of Tiger range countries (TRCs), many of which employed more rigorous methods of sampling compared to previous surveys efforts (WWF, 2016). Studies also indicate that the known Tiger range has declined by 42% between 2006 and 2014, attributed to actual range decline and a reflection of better data collection methods and increase in Tiger surveys (Goodrich et al, 2015). Current knowledge on the range and number of wild Tigers has improved, yet poaching and illegal trade shows no signs of abating. Additionally, the role of captive Tiger facilities has become more relevant in recent years. In 2010 and 2013, TRAFFIC produced two systematic reports analysing Tiger seizures from range countries that described trafficking patterns (Verheij et al., 2010; Stoner and Pervushina, 2013). This 2016 report presents an updated situational analysis, assessing information over a 16-year period from January 2000 to December 2015 for all Tiger range countries (TRCs), using a combination of data acquired from governments and open source media reports. During May-June 2016, TRAFFIC, with the assistance of the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), formally requested seizure data (for incidents occurring between January 2012 and 2016) from the government departments responsible for gathering illegal wildlife seizure data within each TRC. Only government data from Bangladesh and Malaysia was supplied, and India pointed TRAFFIC to source required information from Tigernet. The governments of Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand supplied data previously to TRAFFIC to service Tiger trade analysis for previous reporting periods (Verheij et al, 2010, Stoner and Pervushina, 2013). However, the majority of this dataset comprises Tiger seizures held within TRAFFIC's database that are reported within the media or from openly available sources, such as Tigernet in India. Any duplicate incidents were removed. Data parameters did not consider seizures that have taken place outside the 13 TRCs (including, for example: seizures that originated from or are destined for any TRC). Data have been analysed to show overall trends for the full 16 years as well as a closer examination of changes over time across four quarterly periods: 2000-2003 (Q1), 2004-2007 (Q2), 2008-2011 (Q3) and 2012-2015 (Q4). TRAFFIC is preparing a full report of this analysis, which aims to illustrate findings on the trade in Tigers at a global level, while also describing trends in each TRC through country profiles, describing key considerations at a country-specific level (Stoner et al., in prep). This Briefing Document highlights top-line findings from the detailed analysis over the 16 years, including key occurrences and patterns over the period assessed. Key recommendations are provided for consideration by actors at national, regional and international levels. Details: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, 2016. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/reduced_to_skin_and_bones.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/reduced_to_skin_and_bones.pdf Shelf Number: 147818 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeTigersWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Stoner, Sarah Title: Reduced to Skin and Bones Re-examined: Full Analysis. An analysis of Tiger seizures from 13 range countries from 2000-2015 Summary: Illegal trade and the trafficking of Tiger Panthera tigris, as well as their parts, products and derivatives, and the poaching which supplies it, is the most immediate threat to the survival of wild Tigers. In April 2016, the WWF released a new minimum estimate of over 3 890 Tigers Panthera tigris in the wild. This figure is based on national Tiger surveys which employed more rigorous methods of sampling compared to previous surveys, as well as estimations at a national level. The information also shows that the known Tiger range has declined by 42% between 2006 and 2014, attributed to actual decline in Tigers as well as a reflection of better data collection methods and increase in Tiger survey efforts. While current knowledge on the range and number of Tigers has improved, the most immediate threat to the survival of wild Tigers persists. This is the continued persistence of illegal trade and trafficking in Tiger parts, products and derivatives, and the poaching which supplies this trade. Demand also shows no signs of abating, and the role of captive Tiger facilities has become a highly relevant factor. In 2010 and 2013, TRAFFIC produced two systematic reports analysing Tiger seizures from 11 and 12 Tiger range countries (TRCs) respectively, which described the trafficking patterns. This current report presents an updated situational analysis which, assesses seizure information over a 16-year period from January 2000 to December 2015 for all 13 TRCs, using a combination of government acquired data and open source media reports. The data was analysed for overall trends for the full 16 years as well as for four quarterly periods during this duration: 2000-2003 (Q1), 2004- 2007 (Q2), 2008-2011 (Q3) and 2012-2015 (Q4). The objective of this report is to summarize the current trade dynamics for Tigers at a global level, in addition to assessing trade characteristics for each country with selected key considerations at a country-specific level. Practical recommendations are also provided for the consideration of the TRCs, stakeholders and -other actors at international, regional and national levels. Over the 16-year period between 2000 and 2015, a total of 801 Tiger seizures were reported across the 13 Tiger range countries, equivalent to an estimated minimum of 1 755 Tigers seized. On average, 50 seizures were reported annually, equivalent to a minimum of 110 Tigers. Compared to TRAFFIC’s previous analysis in 2013 where 654 seizures were recorded from 2000-2012, representing 1 425 Tigers seized, the 2016 data shows an increase of 147 Tigers, which reflects an additional 330 Tigers seized. It needs to be mentioned that some of this increase can be ascribed to the inclusion of data from more countries in the 2012 and 2015 analyses. For example, Cambodia did not previously report seizure incidents for the year 2000, and therefore did not feature in TRAFFIC’s analysis in 2010 or 2013. While China, Indonesia and Thailand were observed to be the top three countries that demonstrated a consistent increase in seizures in each four-year period quarter of the 2000 to 2015 timeframe, only Indonesia and Thailand show an increasing number of Tigers seized each quarter. For instance, Thailand seized 166 Tigers from 2012-2015, compared to the 64 Tigers seized from 2008-2011; it must be noted that the seizure of 102 Tigers from the Tiger temple in 2015 is the reason behind this increase. Indeed, this analysis highlights the prominent role of Tiger seizures from captive facilities, including farms, zoos and tourist locations. At least 297 of the 1755 tigers (17%) are those that have been reportedly seized from or originated from captive facilities, crucially though this percentage rises to an estimated 30% (or 154 Tigers) for the most recent quarter (2012-2015). Ten of the 13 TRCs reported seizures of live Tigers, totalling 263 live Tigers seized over the 16-year review period, with Thailand and Viet Nam seizing the highest numbers. Overall, the greatest number of seizures were reported by India, accounting for 44% (355) of all reported seizures. However, statistically analysis of its short-term data indicates that the relative proportion of seizures in India significantly declined over this time period. Moreover, there was no statistically significant change in the relative proportion of seizures for any of the other countries during 2000-2015. Ten of the 13 TRCs reported seizures of live Tigers, totalling 263 live Tigers seized during the 16-year review period, with Thailand and Viet Nam reporting the highest numbers. Overall, the highest number of seizures was reported by India, accounting for 44% (355) of all reported seizures. However, statistical analysis of its short-term data indicates that the relative proportion of seizures in India, compared to other TRCs, has significantly declined over this period. Moreover, there was no statistically significant change in the relative proportion of seizures for any of the other countries during 2000-2015. In the analysis of Tiger commodity type in trade, the data show that skins – seized in complete parts, representing one Tiger – were the commodity most often seized, with a minimum of 758 skins seized during the 16-year period analysed. Statistical analysis of the combined trend for all TRCs, however, indicate a significant decrease in the seizure of skins. Notably, while the first quarter of the 2010-2015 timeframe saw 214 Tiger skins seized, this number declined in each subsequent quarter, with a minimum of 146 skins recorded seized in the most recent quarter of 2012-2015. This decline, however, could have been due to reporting issues rather than to an actual decline in Tiger skins being seized. For instance, India’s reported seizures of skins have declined drastically since 2009. At a Tiger range level, seizures of bones in the most recent quarter (2012-2015), however, were significantly higher than in the preceding three quarters. Similarly, the amount of Tiger bone wine detected in trade – mostly seized in China and Viet Nam - was higher in the most recent quarter than in the preceding quarters. Alarmingly, more Tiger canines were seized in the 2012-2015 quarter than the three previous quarters combined, and this may signal a greater demand for these as items of jewellery. The huge disparity in how each of the TRCs report seizures makes meaningful and accurate analysis exceedingly difficult, particularly regional level analysis. The lack of a systematic centralized reporting system underlies this problem. While the data shows both the number of seizures and number of Tigers seized across Asia increasing throughout the 2000- 2015 review period, this is not consistent with national level trends, and may reflect changes in reporting practices rather than anything substantive. Details: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, 2016. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27333821/1479214615913/Reduced-to-Skin-and-Bones-Re-examined-Full-Analysis.pdf?token=RB5g%2BuJ3dqgx%2BUfDNqZzgWtkDPA%3D Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27333821/1479214615913/Reduced-to-Skin-and-Bones-Re-examined-Full-Analysis.pdf?token=RB5g%2BuJ3dqgx%2BUfDNqZzgWtkDPA%3D Shelf Number: 141184 Keywords: Animal Poaching Illegal Wildlife Trade Tigers Wildlife Crime Wildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Jayanathan, Shamini Title: Stopping poaching and wildlife trafficking through strengthened laws and improved application: Phase 1: An analysis of Criminal Justice Interventions across African Range States and Proposals for Action Summary: This report sets out the findings of Phase 1 of a project to further Sustainable Development Goal 15 and in particular, 15.7 "Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products" The project supports the Elephant Protection Initiative's (EPI) primary objective to enable full and timely implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP). It is focused on the AEAP's Priority Objective 1: REDUCE ILLEGAL KILLING OF ELEPHANTS AND ILLEGAL TRADE IN ELEPHANT PRODUCTS and its key strategies: Harmonize national policies and laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants within and across range States where possible. Strengthen the laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants. Strengthen the enforcement of laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants. The project focuses on the passage of wildlife crime along the 'criminal justice pathway': beginning with the legislative framework for prosecuting wildlife crime; turning to the investigator to prosecution 'handover'; prosecution capability, judicial handling of such cases at trial, sentencing and mutual legal assistance (MLA). It does not consider intelligence handling initiatives, policing per se or frontline protection projects. This report aims to: present a snapshot of the status of the criminal justice pathway; and past, current and planned interventions by various stakeholders including government and non-government organisations and development partners; and propose a scope of work for Phase 2: identifying existing and new cross-cutting tools and initiatives, including best practice laws and standard operating procedures, that are of general application across jurisdictions; cross-overs and opportunities for better partnerships and collaborations; and some country-specific observations and recommendations for action within the context of global, regional and national strategies (where they exist). The aim of Phase 2 will be to enable more effective government and non-government collaborations to deliver change in the criminal justice pathway, measurable by increased rates of conviction and stronger deterrent penalties. Details: Stop Ivory and the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) Group , 2016. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 30, 2018 at: http://www.internationalconservation.org/publications/ICCF_StopIvory_Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: http://www.internationalconservation.org/publications/ICCF_StopIvory_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 150379 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Aucoin, Ciara Title: Tackling supply and demand in the rhino horn trade Summary: The majority of responses to the growing illegal trade in rhino horn aim to curb supply through frontline enforcement and security in parks and reserves in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa. They include recent advances in legalising the trade. Far less effort has been made to involve local communities in anti-poaching efforts or reduce the appetite for rhino horn in East Asia. This policy brief reviews available information on supply and demand in rhino horn markets, analysing the main responses and their impacts. It advocates greater policy coherence in supply-side measures and more regional and international cooperation in demand-side campaigns. Key points - Responses to the illicit trade in rhino horn have mainly focused on the supply side. The burden of implementing security measures cannot only fall on the under-resourced departments responsible for maintaining national parks. - Improving the protection of rhinos is necessary, but not sufficient. Community-led activities that are well coordinated and funded are needed to ensure local people become key stakeholders in rhino conservation. - Policy focus on curbing the demand for rhino horn must be increased to balance supply-side policy interventions. This requires more support and resources for research and public awareness campaigns in demand countries. Details: Pretoria: ENACT Project, 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2018 at: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2018_03_28_PolicyBrief_Wildlife.pdf Year: 2018 Country: South Africa URL: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2018_03_28_PolicyBrief_Wildlife.pdf Shelf Number: 150470 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal TradeIvoryRhinoswildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |