TRAFFIC and Wildlife Trade

Geographical location:

North America > North America > Canada

Summary

The project addresses the problem of wildlife trade and aims to ensure the protection of animal and plant species, with an emphasis on selected priority ecoregions.

WWF will also work towards the development of international agreements and policy approaches. A key component is to build on the integration of TRAFFIC North America and WWF Canada.

Background

Wildlife trade is the 2nd biggest threat to species survival after habitat destruction. The overexploitation of targeted species for wildlife trade can drive species to extinction and has been well publicized in the cases of tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and others. However, over-harvesting for trade has also affected countless other species of animals and plants.

This overexploitation is a concern because it can impact on human livelihoods; upset the balance of nature; introduce invasive species; and result in the incidental killing of non-target species.

Objectives

- Improving priority regulatory approaches (implementation and enforcement) to wildlife trade.

- Curtailing illegal trade in wildlife in North America by alerting authorities to emerging issues, routes, markets and organized criminal activity.

- Increasing government agency capacity to regulate and enforce wildlife trade laws and public awareness of wildlife trade issues.

- Strengthening the integration of TRAFFIC North America and WWF Canada with a focus on priority ecoregions.

Solution

TRAFFIC works to find and solve the problems created by illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. It provides decision-makers, traders and others, including the public, with reliable information about the environmental harm irresponsible wildlife trade can cause along with guidance on how to counteract it.

Legislation plays a key role in controlling wildlife trade and TRAFFIC works to ensure that laws are widely understood, accepted and practical to apply.

Achievement

Recent achievements include:
- The development of a guide to the identification of seahorses to assist global authorities with seahorse conservation.
- An in-depth analysis of Canada's implementation of CITES, which has led to a revitalization of the Canadian programme.
- Exposure of the international trade in the critically endangered Kaiser’s spotted newt and the role the Internet plays in that trade.
- Training for Mexican wildlife authorities.
- An analysis of trade in the bobcat.