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ISSUE-IN-FOCUS
GLOBAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT
WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING
June 2008
"[P]eople [may] think that wildlife is threatened by loss of habitat, growth of human populations, the conflict between humans and animals. And that is certainly true. But ...what we’ve been seeing recently is... poaching [which is] illegal trade that goes on."
-- Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, June 9, 2008
Unchecked demand for exotic pets, rare foods, trophies, and traditional medicines is driving many wildlife species to the brink of extinction. It is also threatening efforts to meet the global 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss and contributing to the spread to humans of virulent wildlife diseases, such as SARS, avian influenza and the Ebola virus. The illegal wildlife trade is often linked to organized crime and involves many of the same culprits and smuggling routes as trafficking in arms, drugs, and persons.
To confront the growing threats to global wildlife from poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, the State Department created the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), which aims to bring the public and private sectors together to raise awareness of the wildlife trafficking problem and to help countries work together to share information and improve wildlife law enforcement.
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REMARKS
Wildlife Trafficking Issues (June 9, 2008)
Press Briefing with Special Envoy to the Secretary of State for Wildlife Trafficking Issues Bo Derek and Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science Claudia A. McMurray on Wildlife Trafficking Issues
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/rm/105767.htm
Policy Podcast: Stopping Illegal Wildlife Trafficking (June 9, 2008)
Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Trafficking Issues Bo Derek discusses efforts to stop illegal trafficking in wildlife with Department Spokesman Sean McCormack.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/coffee/105781.htm
Conservation as Diplomacy (May 19, 2008)
Remarks by Dr. Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, at a Wildlife Conservation Society Panel Discussion
http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2008/May/20080527165224eaifas0.566189.html
Poaching American Security: Impacts of Illegal Wildlife Trade (March 5, 2008)
Testimony of Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/images/Documents/20080305/testimony_mcmurray.pdf [PDF format; 41 KB; 9 pages]
Poaching American Security: Impacts of Illegal Wildlife Trade (March 5, 2008)
Testimony of Benito A. Perez, Chief, Law Enforcement U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior before the U.S. House Of Representatives Committee On Natural Resources
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/images/Documents/20080305/testimony_perez.pdf [PDF format; 36 KB; 7 pages]
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ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FEATURING ACTOR HARRISON FORD
As part of World Environment Day, the Department of State, in partnership with non-profit organization WildAid, produced a series of three television public service announcements (PSA) to combat wildlife trafficking featuring renowned actor and activist Harrison Ford.
(June 5, 2008)
View ‘Situation’ PSA:
http://video.state.gov/?fr_story=c7deecd1fc0ffbf7fcb85ee97f2c9afdcddf8dfc
View ‘Souvenir’ PSA:
http://video.state.gov/?fr_story=adcbe0be8f091f377b9e9c0fe15850ddd9239568
View ‘Don’t Buy It’ PSA:
http://video.state.gov/?fr_story=37ef4b4ad238992cfcd49c8e94da79aed49fb6e8
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ARTICLES
Sophisticated Trafficking Networks Move Contraband (June 16, 2008)
Peter Younger, a program manager and criminal intelligence analyst in Interpol’s wildlife crime unit, recently spoke with America.gov about illegal trafficking in endangered wildlife.
http://www.america.gov/st/env-english/2008/June/20080617114838mlenuhret0.6739771.html&distid=ucs
Wildlife Trafficking Is a Serious Problem, Lucrative Business (June 16, 2008)
Peter Younger, director of Interpol’s wildlife crime division, is among the few law enforcement officials wholly dedicated to policing global illegal wildlife trafficking, a huge business that shares smuggling routes with illegal trade in drugs, guns and people.
http://www.america.gov/st/env-english/2008/June/20080616142333mlenuhret0.8286859.html
Actor Harrison Ford Speaks Out Against Wildlife Trafficking (June 5, 2008)
Hollywood, WildAid, the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) and the U.S. government have joined forces to fight wildlife trafficking with three public service announcements featuring actor Harrison Ford.
http://www.america.gov/st/env-english/2008/June/20080605174220mlenuhret0.8324549.html
World Environment Day Urges “Kick the Carbon Habit” (June 4, 2008)
The damaging effect of our addiction” to burning carbon through fossil fuels and unsustainable manufacturing practices is being felt by human populations and plant and animal species in vulnerable regions worldwide. In some of these regions, flora and fauna are being exploited to extinction by criminal traffickers in endangered species.
For that reason, to coincide with World Environment Day, the U.S. State Department launched an initiative to raise public awareness about fighting illegal wildlife trafficking. Public service announcements by actor Harrison Ford, who donated his time, will highlight this global campaign.
http://www.america.gov/st/env-english/2008/June/20080604181247mlenuhret0.3833734.html?CP.rss=true
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FACT SHEETS
Against Wildlife Trafficking: Working Together to End the Illegal Trade in Wildlife (November 8, 2007)
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/102594.pdf [PDF format; 465 KB; 1 page]
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking Frequently Asked Questions (June 4, 2007)
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/85972.htm
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ONLINE READING
"International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: Threats and U.S. Policy"
Liana Sun Wyler and Pervaze A. Sheikh. CRS Report for Congress, March 3, 2008, 49 pages.
The global trade in illegal wildlife is a growing illicit economy estimated to be worth at least US$5 billion and potentially in excess of US$20 billion annually. Demand for illegally obtained wildlife is ubiquitous and some suspect that illicit demand is growing. This report examines reasons behind the global demand for illegal wildlife and how the illegal wildlife trade can affect the natural resources and environment of importing and exporting countries.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/102621.pdf [PDF format; 735 KB]
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USEFUL WEBSITES
U.S. Government Agencies:
Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement
http://www.fws.gov/le
The Office of Law Enforcement contributes to the Service efforts to manage ecosystems, save endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, restore fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote international wildlife conservation.
Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env
The Department of State, the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is responsible for, among other things, advancing sustainable development and natural resource conservation, including protecting biodiversity and combating the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs):
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT)
http://www.cawtglobal.org/
The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) aims to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
http://www.cites.org
CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
http://www.worldwildlife.org
WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organizations, with close to 5 million supporters and a network active in more than 100 countries on five continents. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature
