By Scottish Government

When a wildlife crime is suspected, the first step is for it to be reported to the police (or detected by the police), and then recorded. Further steps may include investigation to assess whether the recorded crime should be part of a case submitted to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and then a decision on whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to be prosecuted. Ultimately a court case may result in a conviction or acquittal. All these stages may be supported by relevant scientific evidence and intelligence.

This report presents statistics relating to 2021-22 for the various stages described above. Although these sets of statistics are related, direct comparisons between them cannot be made due to differences in data sources, timing and the bases on which statistics were collated. For example, several recorded crimes may be included in one COPFS case (involving multiple sources of scientific evidence), and subsequent criminal proceedings may occur in a different year.

Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2024. 38p., app.

By Maurice Ogbonnaya

Although Nigeria’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector has considerable developmental potential, it is undermined by the criminal consortia profiteering from it at the expense of vulnerable populations. In Nigeria’s North West, North Central and, to some extent, South West regions, criminal collaboration in the illegal mining of gold between ‘Nigerians in high positions of authority’ and foreign corporations deprives the state of legitimate earnings. It also drives rural banditry and violent local conflicts. The Nigerian state will need to deal with the illegal mining networks that fuel rural banditry and violence both in the North West region and across the country.

ENACT Africa, 2020. 12p.

By ENACT

The illicit exploitation of mineral resources has long-term impacts on the environment, including formation of sinkholes, and contamination of the soil, groundwater and surface water. It also results in soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, health risks and even deaths. However, it is not regarded as environmental crime in Central Africa. This Policy Brief draws attention to the environmental harms caused by illegal mining in the region and explores how national and regional responses to the challenge can address the environmental fallouts.

Key points

• The environmental impacts of illegal mining in Central Africa negatively affect human and animal habitats, as well as the lives of indigenous communities.

• Illegal mining in the region is not regarded as an environmental crime.

• Various obstacles impede attempts to address illegal mining, including gaps in the criminalization of such mining and non-stringent penalties.

• Both state and non-state actors are involved in illegal mining, undermining state authority and regulatory capabilities.

• There are no regional mechanisms to counter illegal mining.

ENACT Africa, 2024. 12p.

By The Environmental Investigation Agency

A thriving online illegal trade in the swim bladders of endangered totoaba fish is helping to drive the vaquita porpoise to the brink of extinction.

Vaquita are the most endangered marine mammal on the planet and exist only in a small area of Mexico’s Gulf of California. It is estimated as few as 10 individuals remain, with the population devastated in the past decade as a result of being caught in illegal gillnets set to capture totoabas.

Totoaba swim bladders – known as maws – are in high demand in China and, increasingly, in other Asian countries as a symbol of wealth and for their purported, but unproven, medicinal value.

London: EIA, 2024. 20p.

By TRAFFIC

The research, conducted by a team of experts, focused on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It began with an in-depth examination of social media platforms, where illegal wild species trade activities often thrive.

While these countries have made efforts to align their legal systems with international conventions and treaties, the study identified noticeable gaps and weaknesses in the enforcement of these laws. Ambiguous definitions, inadequate penalties, and shortcomings in regulating online trade were among the key issues identified.

The current legal frameworks in Central Asia are not effectively addressing the challenges posed by illegal wild species trade. To ensure the long-term success of sustainable trade, it is crucial to address these gaps and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

The study provides a set of recommendations to address the identified shortcomings. These include clarifying definitions, enhancing penalties for offenders, and improving regulations for online trade. By implementing these recommendations, Central Asian countries can take significant steps towards curbing illegal wild species trade and promoting sustainable economic growth.

The findings of this study must urge policymakers to prioritise the enforcement of laws to stop steep declines of biodiversity in their countries. Sustainable and legal trade can only thrive when supported by robust and effective legal frameworks.

Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2024. 101p.

By Serene C.L. Chng, Salman Saaban, Anongrakh Wechit, Kanitha Krishnasamy

Although the Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis is still a commonly seen species in many parts of Malaysia, high demand for it as a cage bird domestically and in neighbouring countries has resulted in trapping and smuggling of Malaysian populations. Analysis of seizure data for this species, as it implicated Malaysia, shows an escalation of international trafficking in recent years to feed the persistent demand for the pet trade. Overall, at least 26,950 Oriental Magpie-robins were seized from 44 incidents that implicated Malaysia from January 2015–December 2020, averaging at least 613 birds per seizure. These seizures took place in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Of these, Malaysian and Indonesian authorities definitively reported that 17,314 (64%) birds were being smuggled from Malaysia to Indonesia. This points to Malaysian populations of the Oriental Magpie-robin being increasingly targeted to feed demand in neighbouring countries, particularly Indonesia. At least 17,736 (66%) of all birds were confiscated in just 2020, signifying a current and possibly growing problem. This could be due to an increase in enforcement effort, coupled with dwindling populations in parts of Indonesia to supply birds for trade. A total of 23 seizures occurred in Malaysia, all were confined to the states of Johor, Melaka, Sarawak and Sabah involving a total of 17,997 birds. Most incidents in the first three states pointed to cross-border smuggling (the case in Sabah was a confiscation on premises). In eight of the Malaysian seizures, where birds were being trafficked to Indonesia, at least 16 Indonesian nationals were arrested, strongly suggesting networks of smugglers moving birds between the two countries. Many of these were reported to be illegal immigrants, indicating an additional national security concern.

TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: 2021. 20p.

By Josef Job G. Raymundo, Emerson Y. Sy, and Serene C.L. Chng

The Philippines has a rich hornbill diversity, but many species are found in a restricted range and threatened by habitat loss, hunting for wild meat and cultural objects, and the live bird trade.

This threat is reinforced by the discovery of 143 live hornbills from nine taxa for sale online from 2018-2022, reported in Farmers of the Forest in Cages: The Online Trade of Hornbills in the Philippines.

While the Luzon Tarictic Hornbill was the most recorded species in the study (73% of all individuals), five Endangered Visayas Tarictic Hornbill Penelopides panini were also offered for sale.

Two-thirds of traders recorded were in central Luzon and likely sourced wild hornbills within or from nearby provinces, said the report authors.

Seizure records during the same period showed a further 66 hornbills seized in 24 incidents.

TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, 2023. 24p.

By Bakytbek Tokubek uulu, Sanjar Kurmanov, Louisa Musing

Law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan can greatly benefit from systematically collecting, analysing, and sharing data with neighbouring countries on illegal wild species traders, networks, and trade routes. By doing so, these agencies can effectively bring these criminals to justice.

The report comprises four main parts: Guidance on Illegal Wild species Trade Data Collection, Guidance on Illegal Wild species Trade Data Analysis, Guidance on Illegal Wild species Trade Data Sharing, and Training and Capacity Building Resources to Support Law Enforcement Agencies Tackling the Illegal Wild species Trade.

The Guidance also includes examples of best practices from other countries, including European Union Member States. Additionally, the report references existing resources such as the ICCWC Wild species and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit and consolidates various tools and resources from initiatives like CITES, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) websites.

The report acts as a guidance tool, urging law enforcement agencies to adopt best practices in combating illegal wild species trade. By understanding the intricacies of this criminal activity and leveraging data-driven approaches, agencies can significantly enhance their effectiveness in tackling this global issue.

Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 2024. 36p.

By Bakytbek Tokubek uulu, Louisa Musing, Amy Woolloff, Kanaat Musuraliev, Sanjar Kurmanov, Stephanie von Meibom S

Central Asia boasts a remarkable array of ecosystems, harbouring a diverse range of animals, plants and fungi, from majestic Saker falcons to the slow Steppe Tortoises alongside the unique Saiga antelope and various wild species of Bovidae, including Argali Mountain sheep and Siberian Ibex and plants like liquorice root that is used in herbal remedies and teas globally. While the assessment primarily focuses on the trade in animal and plant species listed in CITES Appendices, it also encompasses information on nationally protected but non-CITES-listed species.

The report, part of a trio of Central Asia publications, identifies several species that frequently appear in country seizure records, indicating the need for regional collaboration to combat illegal trade.

Notably, the Saiga Antelope emerges as the most frequently reported species in seizure records from government agencies in Kazakhstan, with smaller records in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The Saker Falcon also features prominently in seizure records from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with additional reports of live falcons seized upon import to the UAE from Tajikistan. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have seized several thousand live specimens of the Steppe Tortoise.

Beyond providing a comprehensive overview of wild species trade, the study aims to identify common challenges and propose solutions to assist national agencies in coordinating efforts to combat illegal trade while effectively managing and regulating legal wild species trade.

Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 2024. 90p.

By Orrin H. Pilkey , Norma J. Longo , William J. Neal , Nelson G. Rangel-Buitrago , & 2 more

In a time of accelerating sea level rise and increasingly intensifying storms, the world’s sandy beaches and dunes have never been more crucial to protecting coastal environments. Yet, in order to meet the demands of large-scale construction projects, sand mining is stripping beaches and dunes, destroying environments, and exploiting labor in the process. The authors of Vanishing Sands track the devastating impact of legal and illegal sand mining over the past twenty years, ranging from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to South America and the eastern United States. They show how sand mining has reached crisis levels: beach, dune, and river ecosystems are in danger of being lost forever, while organized crime groups use deadly force to protect their illegal mining operations. Calling for immediate and widespread resistance to sand mining, the authors demonstrate that its cessation is paramount for saving not only beaches, dunes, and associated environments but also lives and tourism economies everywhere.

Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2023. 265p.