wildlife trade

Illegal wildlife trade

WWF is steadfastly working against the illegal trade in wildlife – the second biggest threat to species survival after habitat destruction.

Although most wildlife trade is legal, a significant amount is not. For example, in just one year during 2003-04, EU-based enforcement authorities made more than 7,000 seizures – these included more than 3.5 million wildlife specimens that were prohibited from being traded. And from 2002-06, almost 1,000 illegally-traded Egyptian tortoises were seized in the EU, which represent around 13% of the species’ entire wild population – an illustration of how devastating trade impacts can be.

International species conservation policy

We work with the UK government – and through the global WWF Network – to influence international policy on conservation issues affecting some of the world’s most important species. We make sure our voice is heard at two important policy bodies: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

International species conservation policy

WWF not only works for a legal and sustainable wildlife trade by funding and supporting a variety of initiatives in countries that produce or consume wildlife products. We also work with the UK government – and through the global WWF Network – to influence international policy on conservation issues affecting some of the world’s most important species.

We make sure our voice is heard at two important policy bodies: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 

CITES

CITES is an international agreement, which regulates the trade in endangered wild animals and plants to help ensure the survival of wild species.

WWF has been a positive force in CITES since the treaty came into force in 1975. We actively promote stronger enforcement of the treaty for the benefit of wildlife conservation.

The last meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP 15) took place in Doha, Qatar, 13-25 March 2010. It was overall fairly disappointing, even though there were some good outcomes.

Some conservation successes include:

• Listing of a number of threatened reptiles, amphibians and aromatic timbers in the CITES Appendices (Appendix I in the case of the Kaiser spotted newt).
• Maintaining the position that raising tigers in captivity for trade in their parts is unacceptable.
• Recognition of the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and its link to the emergence of a new market for rhino horn in Viet Nam – all three countries will be required to show progress in tackling the crisis over the coming three years.

However, the meeting will be remembered primarily for the failure to adopt any of the six well-merited proposals to list marine species in the Appendices.

• A proposal to list Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, the prized fish for sashimi, in Appendix I was defeated, due to concerted opposition led by Japan, with the EU (the main driver of overfishing) equivocating. However, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna fishing nations did make strong commitments to agree conservation measures for this species in other fora.
• Four proposals to list sharks in Appendix II that are valued for their fins and meat (hammerhead shark, oceanic whitetip shark, spiny dogfish and porbeagle) were narrowly defeated.
• A proposal to list red and pink coral, used in the jewellery industry, was also defeated.

The outcomes regarding African elephants can best be described as mixed. While the decision not to sanction further ivory trade at this juncture was the correct one, the divisive tone of the debate on the issue – and the failure to highlight the ongoing threat from domestic ivory markets – were disappointing.

IWC

The IWC (International Whaling Commission) was set up in 1946 under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to address the overexploitation of whale species.

Over recent decades, WWF believes the IWC has taken some encouraging steps in changing its emphasis from governing the whaling industry towards conserving and studying whales.

However, Japan, Norway and Iceland are still whaling even though an international moratorium on commercial whaling has been in place since 1986. All three countries are exploiting loopholes in the convention to kill nearly 2,000 whales each year.

WWF is working with governments to promote the conservation of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), and to ensure that commercial exploitation never again threatens any species of whale.

The 63rd annual IWC meeting took place in St Helier, Jersey from 11th to 15th July 2011. The meeting ended somewhat acrimoniously after member governments hit an impasse over the proposal of a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. The sanctuary, put forward by South American member countries, was vehemently opposed by pro-whaling governments, who walked out of the meeting when a vote was called. Opposition to the sanctuary proposal dominated the bulk of the meeting’s final day causing important whale conservation issues to be dropped from the agenda.

Whales and other cetaceans are at risk from numerous human-induced threats such as climate change, fisheries bycatch, oil and gas exploration and ship strikes. The Commission agreed to allocate sufficient time at next year’s meeting in Panama to address the many environmental threats affecting whales. Members also decided to postpone discussions over the South Atlantic sanctuary until the 2012 meeting.

Among the successes, IWC 63 adopted key reforms aimed at improving the body’s operations and creating greater transparency. Additionally, a workshop is being planned to explore ways the Commission can minimise threats to Arctic cetaceans coming from human activities such as oil extraction, shipping and undersea noise.

Further information on the IWC

Wildlife trade in the UK

The illegal trade in wildlife is a still a major problem in the UK. Find out how WWF is working to tackle wildlife crime and how you can help support our work.

Tackling the UK's illegal trade in wildlife

Operation Charm

Launched by the Metropolitan Police in 1995, Operation Charm is an initiative that challenges the illegal trade of endangered species in London. The scheme works through a combination of law enforcement and raising public awareness.

In 2006, Operation Charm became a partnership now involving six entities: WWF, the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit, the Greater London Authority, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.  WWF would like to thank all those supporters who in 2007 helped to ensure the budget of the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit was not cut and all four staff remained in post.

'Remember to think globally and act locally. If you think you know about any illegal wildlife trade in London, or would like to find out more about the partnership, please visit the Operation Charm website 

Eyes and Ears

Unfortunately, endangered species of many kinds are still smuggled into Britain in direct contravention of UK law and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Smuggled endangered species are typically sold illegally as pets, fashion items, medicines, curios or exotic houseplants. WWF's Eyes and Ears initiative asks you to take a leading role in stamping out this illegal wildlife trade by letting us know if you’ve seen or heard about any suspicious wildlife trade.

Find out more about our Eyes and Ears initiative

See how your reports have helped to stop criminals 

Souvenir Alert

Souvenir Alert is a joint initiative between WWF, Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), and HM Revenue & Customs. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about how the illegal wildlife trade threatens endangered species and focuses on how the worldwide souvenir industry contributes to this threat.

Souvenir Alert also increases public awareness of the various controls, agreed at CITES, related to importing wildlife.

Find out more about Souvenir Alert 

Partnership for Action against Wildlife crime (PAW)

WWF is a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), which brings together the Police, officers from HM Revenue and Customs and UK Border Agency, government department representatives and relevant voluntary bodies.

The partnership exists to promote the enforcement of wildlife conservation legislation, particularly by supporting the networks of police wildlife crime officers, and officers from HM Revenue and Customs and UK Border Agency.

WWF sponsors the annual Wildlife Law Enforcer of the Year Award. This award is presented by PAW to the law enforcer who has contributed the most to combating wildlife crime in the UK. Read about past winners and their excellent work.

For more information on PAW, visit www.defra.gov.uk/paw

Forensic Analysis Fund

WWF supports the Forensic Analysis Fund, which provides match funding for the cost of forensic analyses that are required by police or customs/border agency officers for wildlife intelligence operations or wildlife-specific casework.  Many wildlife cases would fail to reach prosecution stage if such analyses were unavailable.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

WWF works alongside the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) , a police-led, standalone, multi-agency unit with a UK-wide remit to tackle wildlife crime. Since its launch in 2006, the unit has gathered intelligence on national wildlife crime and provided analytical and investigative support to police and customs officers across the UK. Trade in CITES species has been identified as one of the UK’s priorities in tackling wildlife crime. NWCU particularly focuses on the illegal trade in caviar, ivory, ramin, tortoises and traditional medicines.

Find out more at www.nwcu.police.uk/index.asp

TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a joint conservation programme of WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature