Multifaceted measures can have positive results in combating illegal wildlife trafficking, which remains a global problem, a UN report published this Monday says.
The 2024 Global Wildlife Crime Report is the third analysis on the topic by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), following studies published in 2016 and 2020.
Thousands of endangered species suffer from illegal trade that also harms ecosystems, but “the report also provides cause for optimism,” pointing out that “some ongoing wildlife trade appears to have been suppressed in recent years by multifaceted measures.”
These actions, including political involvement, law enforcement, and market suppression, may have led to “a decline in poaching and illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn over the past decade.”
The study’s authors believe that while the situation is not resolved, these “examples demonstrate that significant progress can be made” while also continuing to advocate post-seizure investigations, international cooperation and coordination, demand reduction initiatives, greater community participation and with corruption.
This ranges from bribery at checkpoints along trade routes to facilitate the passage of illegal goods to high-level influence in the issuance of licenses and court decisions.
“Crime continues to undermine the impact of laws aimed at reducing harm” resulting from “excessive wildlife trade”, and also harms socio-economic development and poses governance challenges, UNODC concludes, noting that traffickers are exploiting inconsistencies and weaknesses in legislation and its application. .
To reduce the likelihood of contraband goods entering legal trade in other territories, the study recommends requiring “more convincing evidence of the legal origin of (their) imports”, as already provided for in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Wildlife disappearance. Flora (CITES) for listed species and, for example, in European Union legislation applicable to the timber trade.
The study analyzed more than 140,000 seizure records between 2015 and 2021, which shows that the illegal trade took place “in 162 countries and territories” and affected “about 4,000 plant and animal species”, about 3,250 of which are included in applications. from CITES.
The report states that “13 million items” destined for food production, drug manufacturing, animal and plant breeding, and “luxury” goods were seized over those seven years, highlighting that “real levels of illicit trafficking (… ) is significantly higher than reported seizures.”
UNODC indicates that an assessment of trends for the period 2015–2021 showed that “the annual number of seizures recorded in 2020 and 2021 was approximately half of the number recorded in each of the previous four years.”
But he draws attention to the fact that it is “impossible to be sure” whether this reflects a “true decline in human trafficking” or is the result of fewer reports, fewer inspection operations or changes in marketing and transport conditions. illegal goods to reduce the likelihood of their detection, noting that “any of these factors” could be “attributed to disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The report also notes an increase in national, regional and international action to combat wildlife crime.
“The diversity of institutions working to reduce trafficking (…) and initiatives has increased substantially over the past decade,” he says, arguing that “to get the most out of these efforts, more structured coordination between government agencies and multilateral organizations is needed , civil society organizations, academics and the private sector.”
He also argues that measures to combat trade in animals and plants “would likely be more effective if they were planned and implemented” as part of “broader strategies to combat overexploitation of species and other associated harms to sectors other than from the trade in wildlife such as rosewood.” or live reptile markets.”
Case studies included in the report focus on the illegal trade in orchids, seahorses, rosewood, ivory, rhino horn and pangolins.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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