By Rodriguez, M., M. Pascual, J. Wingard, N. Bhatri, A. Rydannykh, A. Russo, J. Janicki

Sharing up to 98% of human DNA, great apes are our closest relatives on earth. Human activities, however, pose serious challenges to their survival and threaten them with extinction. Expansion of the agricultural frontier into tropical forests, and poaching, driven by lucrative illegal markets for pets and bush meat, are the main forces cited for their population declines.1 Meanwhile, in some parts of the world, people are eager to have baby chimps at home; others attend great ape ‘boxing matches’; while others are looking for that ‘Instagram-able’ moment with a captive great ape. Regardless of the kinds of demand for great apes, we are losing thousands to illegal trade in these species every year. The exact number is unknown due to the illegal nature of the trade, but the UN Environment Programme estimates that no fewer than 3,000 great apes are taken from the wild each year. 2 Because of these high losses and continuing population declines, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists great apes and gibbons as either endangered or critically endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species. These categories denote species that are “very likely” to become extinct in the wild or face an “extreme high risk” of extinction, respectively. There are seven species of great apes (excluding humans), divided into four genera – gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos. They inhabit areas of central Africa and South East Asia, and tend to live in humid mountainous areas and forests. Gibbons, part of the family of lesser apes, comprise 16 species, all of which are native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South East Asia.

Missoula, MT: Legal Atlas, 2018. 191p.

By Melissa Arias

In recent years, the illegal trade in jaguars has become a growing concern for the conservation of the species, following academic, media and NGO reports suggesting the emergence of international trafficking to China, and the existence of thriving domestic markets for jaguar body parts across the range. Jaguar hunting, and the use and trade in their body parts have a long history in Latin America, tied to the traditional practices and belief systems of past and current indigenous and mixed-ethnicity societies. Through most of the 19th and 20th centuries, jaguars were hunted at commercial scales for their skins, to supply the fashion industry in Europe and North America. The listing of jaguars under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1975, which prohibits international commercial trade, along with the establishment of national hunting laws,successfully put an end to commercial-scale international trade in jaguars. Since then, illegal trade became a minor concern amidst a larger set of threats facing the species, including habitat loss, fragmentation and increased conflict with humans over real or perceived livestock depredation. After nearly five decades since their listing under CITES, recent findings suggesting that the demand for jaguar body parts is expanding to other continents, particularly Asia, have raised concerns about the potential impacts of illegal trade on the survival of the species. These concerns have translated into conservation actions at the national and international level, including CITES Decisions 18.251 to18.253 on Jaguars (Panthera onca), adopted at the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES held in Geneva, Switzerland in August 2019. In accordance with Decision 18.251, the CITES Secretariat commissioned this study to: i) map illegal trade in the jaguar throughout its range, including poaching, trade pathways and networks, and main markets that are driving this trade, and how it is connected to other wildlife trafficking activities in the region; ii) analyse the uses of jaguar specimens, both within range states and in international markets, as well as the extent to which illegally-sourced jaguar products are entering international trade; iii) analyse the modus operandi associated with illegal trade in jaguar specimens and possible drivers of this activity; and iv) characterize the overall impact of illegal trade on jaguar populations throughout the species’ range. Jaguars have a wide distribution, from the South-western United States to northern Argentina, covering 8.42 million km² across 19 countries (de la Torre et al., 2017). Despite being a highly charismatic species, their population status is poorly understood and their abundance estimates vary greatly. Jaguars are classified as Near Threatened under the IUCN Red List. However, most jaguar subpopulations with the exception of the Amazon subpopulation (including parts of the Pantanal, Yungas and Chaco biomes), have been assessed as Endangered or Critically Endangered due to their small size, isolation and deficient protection (de la Torre et al., 2017). The threats to jaguars are increasing, with deforestation growing inside and outside protected areas, driven by the expansion of agriculture, cattle ranching, and human infrastructure. These threats have synergistic impacts on jaguars by increasing access of poachers into remote areas, reducing prey abundances, and increasing the risk of human-jaguar conflict. Targeted poaching of jaguars for the illegal commercial trade adds to the pressures that jaguars are already facing, and may affect the survival of sub-populations that are at critical risk of extinction. Understanding the scale, characteristics and impacts of this growing threat to jaguars is essential to design and implement Decision 18.252, in particular paragraphs c) to g) as well as other effective jaguar conservation actions.

Geneva, SWIT: Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES) , 2021. 141p.

By Esmond Martin and Lucy Vigne

China is the largest importer by weight of illegal ivory in the world (Milliken, et al. 2009). In response the government of China took steps to reduce this illegal ivory trade in 2004 by introducing an official identification card for each ivory item sold in registered shops. China was then approved by CITES to buy tusks from the southern African ivory auctions in 2008; Chinese traders bought 62 tonnes. In January 2011 we surveyed ivory factories and retail outlets in Guangzhou, the largest city in southern China and an important ivory centre, and in Fuzhou, a city famous for carving. According to a factory owner in Fuzhou, in 2010 he paid on average USD 455/kg for government-owned 1-5kg tusks with a range of USD 303- 530/kg. Similarly, privately-owned raw ivory in 2010 was USD 750/ kg, according to various sources. Siberian mammoth high quality tusks were around USD 400/kg in 2010 wholesale in China.

London: Elephant Family, The Aspinall Foundation and C Woking, Surrey Woking, Surrey olumbus Zoo and Aquarium, 2011. 20p.

By Simone Haysom and Rowan Martin

The research described in this trend report is a response to concerns raised by the World Parrot Trust (WPT) over the scale and scope of online markets for African grey parrots within range states in Africa. African Grey parrots are popular pets in many countries but international trade in wild African grey parrots is prohibited under multilateral agreements and national laws in some countries. However, preliminary investigations into advertisements for these birds on Nigerian internet platforms raised concern. Analysis of data from an ongoing project of the Market Monitoring and Friction Unit (MMFU), which focuses on monitoring the online marketing of live endangered birds, revealed an emerging online market for African grey parrots in several African countries. This report provides evidence that, despite high levels of local and international protection, live sales of this endangered species are being advertised on so-called ‘classifieds platforms’ across the continent, including in countries outside the species’ natural range, and which represent some of the largest and most rapidly developing economies. The study sought not only to highlight specific concerns about the trade in African grey parrots but also to elucidate the dynamics of its international and regional regulation so as to inform targeted engagement and potential action at a malleable stage in market development. A total of 782 online advertisements were identified over a six-month period (October 2020–March 2021), with almost all of them being on classified sites. The high number and frequency of advertisements in Kenya (455) and Nigeria (264) were concerning, and action is urgently needed to address the problem in both countries. Noticing advertisements in countries such as Benin, Ghana and Angola, even in low numbers, is an early-warning sign of nascent markets elsewhere. The analysis suggests a rising demand for the species as pets, which traders are seeking to meet. The pattern of these advertisements suggests illegal trade both across borders, contravening agreements under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and within countries, contravening national laws. National wildlife authorities are therefore urged to monitor the development of these markets and to take early action to shut down such marketing activities on the implicated platforms.

Geneva: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2021. 31p.

By Financial Action Task Force

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a major transnational organised crime, which generates billions of criminal proceeds each year. IWT fuels corruption, threatens biodiversity, and can have a significant negative impact on public health and the economy. To move, hide and launder their proceeds1 , wildlife traffickers exploit weaknesses in the financial and non-financial sectors, enabling further wildlife crimes and damaging financial integrity. Despite this, jurisdictions2 rarely investigate the financial trail left by this crime. 2. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as the global standard setter on antimoney laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) and countering proliferation financing (CPF), is concerned about the lack of focus on the financial aspects of this crime, and has conducted this study to support jurisdictions to combat related money laundering. The FATF Standards (i.e. 40 Recommendations) provide a useful framework for jurisdictions to address these threats by strengthening their national laws, policies, and co-operation at the domestic and international level. 3. This is the FATF’s first global report on IWT. It builds on previous studies by two of the FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), work by other international bodies and recent initiatives by the private sector. This study by the FATF makes a unique contribution by assessing the money laundering (ML) aspects of wildlife crimes, and by demonstrating how jurisdictions should apply the FATF standards to combat IWT. The findings in this report are based on inputs from around 50 jurisdictions across the FATF Global Network, as well as expertise from the private sector and civil society. This study highlights that jurisdictions should view the proceeds generated by IWT as a global threat, rather than as a problem only for those jurisdictions where wildlife is illegally harvested, transited, or sold. In particular, criminals are frequently misusing the legitimate wildlife trade, as well as other import-export type businesses, as a front to move and hide illegal proceeds from wildlife crimes. They also rely regularly on corruption, complex fraud and tax evasion. Another key theme of this study is the growing role of online marketplaces and mobile and social media-based payments to facilitate movement of proceeds from wildlife crimes. These trends highlight the increasing importance of a coordinated response from public authorities, the private sector and civil society to identify and disrupt financial flows from IWT.

Paris: Financial Action Task Force (FATF)., 2020. 72p.

By Wong, R. and Krishnasamy, K

The present report is the fourth iteration of TRAFFIC’s analysis on the illegal trade in Tigers Panthera tigris looking at an overall 19-year trend from 2000 to 2018. Previous analyses reviewed seizures from the 2000–2010, 2000–2012 and 2000–2015 periods. This analysis involved largely Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), while information opportunistically gathered from outside TRCs has also been included to provide a more comprehensive picture of the illegal trade in Tigers. Beyond highlighting the statistics, this report provides insights into trends and the most current and urgent threats facing Tigers. Nineteen years is a considerable time frame for data aggregation, and admittedly numerous changes have occurred in the wildlife protection and management regimes, including of Tiger habitats in a number of TRCs. With the large dataset spanning almost two decades, various considerations emerge involving TRCs and issues concerning the protection of wild Tigers, as well as those arising from captive facilities implicated with illegal Tiger trade. Overall, a conservative estimate of 2,359 Tigers were seized from 2000 to 2018 across 32 countries and territories globally. These occurred from a total of 1,142 seizure incidents, with 95.1% (or 1,086 incidents) occurring in the 13 Asian TRCs1 , accounting for a minimum of 2,241 Tigers seized. On average, 60 seizures were recorded annually, accounting for almost 124 Tigers seized each year. The top three countries with the highest number of seizure incidents were India (463 or 40.5% of total seizures) and China (126 or 11.0%) closely followed by Indonesia (119 or 10.5%).

Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2019. 52p.

By Environmental Investigation Agency

Since 2018, Mali has suffered two military coups, while the country has become one of the largest suppliers of rosewood to China, through the export of Pterocarpus erinaceus – commonly identified as “kosso,” “keno,” or “bois de vêne,” a species the trade of which is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), since January 2017.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)’s findings indicate that China has imported the equivalent of half a million kosso trees from Mali – worth approximately US$220 million, between January 2017 and January 2022, a large portion of it being the product of illegal harvesting or illegal export. The relentless timber poaching in the Southern forests of Mali has resulted in a significant decline of the species.

Washington, DC: : EIA, 2022. 27p.

Edited by Gian Ege, Andreas Schloenhardt, and Christian Schwarzenegger.

"Wildlife trafficking threatens the existence of many plant and animal species and accelerates the destruction of wildlife, forests, and other natural resources. It contributes to environmental degradation, destroys unique natural habitats, and deprives many countries and their populations of scarce renewable resources. Nevertheless, preventing and supressing the illegal trade in wildlife, animal parts, and plants is presently not a priority in many countries and it remains overlooked and poorly researched. The chapters included in this volume address causes, characteristics, and actors of wildlife trafficking, analyse detection methods, and explore different international and national legal frameworks."

Berlin: Carl Grossmann Verlag, 2020. 405p.

By Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Jacob Duer, Brenda Koekkoek, Arnold Kreilhuber, Elizabeth Mrema, and Andrew Raine of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Chemicals provide important benefits to society and play a vital role in the global economy, but they also carry risks for the environment and human health, with greater risks to vulnerable social groups. Chemicals can contaminate soil, air and water and can damage biodiversity, and human exposure to chemicals is implicated in a range of acute and chronic health effects. As industries have grown in recent decades, so too have environmental and health concerns, and now a range of multilateral environmental agreements together with initiatives, non-binding legal instruments, national legislation and policy frameworks regulate the trade in chemicals

Arendal: UNEP and GRID-Arendal , 2020 86p.

By Claudia Baez Camargo and Gayle Burges.s

This Problem Analysis is a review of the efficacy and opportunities for using social norm and behaviour change (SNBC) approaches to combat illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and similar natural resource-related corruption. Behavioural science is a rich and expansive field that has received prominent coverage in recent years for the promise it offers as a foundational yet underutilised approach to achieving biodiversity conservation. Extensive literature shows how SNBC initiatives can help combat diverse corruption problems, although for those related to natural resource management the evidence for doing so is sparse. This report synthesises the available information and suggests the next steps to redress this current lack of evidence.

Basel, SWIT: Basel Institute on Governance , 2022. 61p.

Arcus Foundation.

Killing, Capture, Trade and Conservation. The illegal trade in live apes, ape meat and body parts occurs across all ape range states and poses a significant and growing threat to the long-term survival of wild ape populations world- wide. What was once a purely subsistence and cultural activity, now encompasses a global multi-million-dollar trade run by sophisticated trans-boundary criminal networks. The chal- lenge lies in teasing apart the complex and interrelated factors that drive the ape trade, while implementing strategies that do not exacerbate inequality. This volume of State of the Apes brings together original research and analysis with topical case studies and emerging best practices, to further the ape conservation agenda around killing, capture and trade.

Cambridge University Press. (2021) 410 pages.

By Sarah Stoner and Jenny Feltham.

‘Wildlife trade on e-commerce sites in China, with a focus on mammoth ivory: A Rapid Assessment’, analysis of this research reveals that the majority of advertised wildlife products are legally permitted for sale. However, the prevalence of mammoth ivory found legally for sale raises concerns about perpetuating demand for elephant ivory products which is now illegal in China. Our research looked at e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and 1688, allowing us to conclude that measures taken by these platforms and by the Chinese government have helped curb online sales of illegal wildlife products. The research identified 4,297 advertisements of wildlife, parts and derivatives, in total, 637 (15%) advertisements were identified as referring to the sale of Protected species, while a minimum of 3,657 (85%) of the identified advertisements were classified as Not Protected and therefore are deemed to be legal. Items derived from mammoth ivory were the most common type of wildlife product for sale on these platforms.

The Hague: Wildlife Justice Commission, 2021. 35p.

By Alexandria Reid and Cathy Haenlein.

The UK is a leading advocate of the need to ‘follow the money’ linked to illegal wildlife trade (IWT) on the international stage. Yet, to date, little focus has been placed on examining the UK’s domestic record in this area. This report is the first independent study to address the UK’s exposure and response to IWT-linked illicit finance, offering recommendations to bolster enforcement action. Based on an open-source literature review, analysis of government enforcement data, a focused ‘call for evidence’ and 40 semi-structured interviews, the report assesses the UK’s record in relation to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 2020 recommendation that countries assess their exposure to IWT-linked illicit finance; ensure legal powers exist to bring financial charges in relation to IWT offending; and undertake greater numbers of parallel financial investigations in IWT cases.

London: Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), 2022. 60p.

By Economist Intelligence Unit.

Behind most every major headline, every major story in the news, lies another potential headline and another story about some form of illicit trade. From the refugee crises in the Mediterranean and South-east Asia, where the chaos is providing cover for human traffickers, to North Korea, a criminal state that couldn’t survive if it didn’t trade in arms, illicit cigarettes and counterfeit currency. Even the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election has led to indictments on money laundering, which is both a product of illicit trade and a facilitator of it. To measure how nations are addressing these and other issues related to illicit trade, the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) has commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to produce the Global Illicit Trade Environment Index. The global index expands upon an Asia-specific version, originally created by The Economist Intelligence Unit in2016toscore17economiesinAsiaonthe extent to which they enabled or prevented illicit trade. This year’s updated and expanded version now includes 84 economies, providing a global perspective and new insights on the trade’s societal and economic impacts.During research for the construction of the index and in writing this report, The Economist Intelligence Unit interviewed executives and • experts from across the world. Their time and insights are greatly appreciated.

NY: TRACIT 2017. 44p.

By Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT).

Illicit trade in alcohol is widespread, representing significant percentages of alcohol consumption worldwide and stripping governments of billions of dollars in tax revenues. In almost all cases, illicit trade in alcohol results in serious health risks to consumers, revenue loss, and brand degradation for legitimate manufacturers, as well as reduced tax revenue for governments. This publication explores the situation in Costa Rica and highlights a number of regulatory and legal mechanisms that the government can implement to better control and combat illicit alcohol.

NY: TRACIT(September 2019) 14p.

By The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT)

Illicit trade in alcohol is widespread, representing significant percentages of alcohol consumption worldwide and stripping governments of billions of dollars in tax revenues. In almost all cases, illicit trade in alcohol results in serious health risks to consumers, revenue loss, and brand degradation for legitimate manufacturers, as well as reduced tax revenue for governments. This publication explores the situation in India and the causes for the flourishing trade in illicit alcohol. The problem in India is exacerbated by the massive size of the country, the federal structure, diverse drinking patterns, the varied regulatory structure and regional nuances and traditions that characterize the alcohol market. Notably, the report highlights a number of regulatory and legal mechanisms that the government can implement to better control and combat illicit alcohol.

NY: The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) (September 2019) 16p.

By Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT)

South Africa is one of the largest and most diversified economies in Africa. The country has a well-established manufacturing base, is a major supplier of goods and services to the continent, has a large consumer base, serves as a regional transport hub, has a strong tourism and financial sector, as well as robust traditional sectors such as agriculture and mining. This diversification, however, means that South Africa also faces challenges from illicit trade on multiple fronts. This publication explores the situation in South Africa and highlights a number of regulatory and legal mechanisms that the government can implement to better control and combat illicit trade.

NY: TRACIT. October 2019. 11p.

By Nick van Doormaal

Wildlife crime is not a single event, but rather a chain of crime events, as depicted in Figure 1.1 and adapted from Moreto and Lemieux (2015) and ‘t Sas-Rolfes et al. (2019). Poaching, the illegal taking of wild flora and fauna, is the first event in a series of crimes that supply the demand for illicit wildlife products. After a poaching event, wildlife will typically be processed, transported to markets, traded, and consumed by the end user. Depending on the context, a number of different people or groups of people can be involved at various stages of the wildlife crime chain. The first stage of the wildlife crime chain will almost always start with a motivated poacher trying to illegally obtain a wildlife product inside a protected area. To prevent this product from entering the market, robust security of protected areas is essential. The studies in this dissertation focus on the poaching stage

Amsterdam: Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), 2020. 168p.