Thailand has become the second largest market in the world for illegal ivory, and by some estimates, the world’s fastest growing. Between 2009 and 2011, 10,923 kilograms of ivory was seized coming into the country. From January 2013 to December 2013, ivory pieces on sale at outlets in Bangkok grew from 5,715 to… read more
Archives for May 2015
Adaptive Management to End Human-Wildlife Conflict
Human-wildlife conflict, at its core, is essentially a struggle over land use. Cattle grazing, agriculture, and other profitable land uses are attractive alternatives to preserving land for the conservation of species in many range countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where fertility rates are among the highest in the world. By… read more
The Wildlife Trade in China: An Ill-Defined Problem
*This blog is part 3 of a 3 part series. Click here for Part 1—Conditioned Aid: A popular, but problematic policy option or here for Part 2—The Black Box of the Ivory Trade: Ivory Vendors* As I have mentioned in my other two blogs, Ana and I gained great insight on… read more
Where did this link between security and wildlife trafficking come from?
The scale and scope of poaching has escalated in recent years. Increasingly, observers are linking poaching to national security interests. Is this link real? Is there a good case to be made for the inclusion of wildlife trafficking in security issues? This blog post explores the evolution of the USG’s… read more
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking – Evaluation
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking In 2005, the United States Department of State created the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) to serve as a “voluntary public-private [international] coalition of like-minded governments and organizations that share the goal of ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.” The CAWT’s three goals… read more
Conspicuous Consumption and Wildlife
Wildlife products are used as a status symbol around the world. Known as conspicuous consumption, the rising cost of certain wildlife products allows users to display wealth and elite status by consuming these products. Such consumption is considered to be one of if not the primary driver behind the recent… read more
Gaps in China’s Wildlife Laws
China’s recent efforts to control the trade of illicit animal products both into the country and within its borders are a positive development. As I mentioned in a previous post on Chinese wildlife enforcement measures, China has one of the best track records in Asia when it comes to border enforcement… read more
Wildlife and traditional medicine
Wildlife products have been valued for use in various medicines for millennia. The use of wildlife products, which often are derived from threatened or endangered species, is still prevalent in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia. At current rates, species such as the pangolin are being driven towards extinction because of… read more
Will taking the guns and ammo away stop poaching?
One of the trickiest challenges in fighting poaching is the tension between arming rangers to combat poaching which could lead to increased escalation and tackling the problem through disarmament. World Wildlife Fund staff cited one of the biggest challenges in combatting poaching is the prevalence of weaponry in range states.… read more
It is Time for Congress to Take Action Against Wildlife Crime
Wildlife crime is one of the largest transnational organized crimes along with drugs, arms, and human trafficking. The U.S. Government has taken important steps to combat wildlife trafficking, however, now congress should Congress take action to consolidate the Obama administration’s priorities and define wildlife crime as a predicate offense.
