Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 7 • Number 4 • 2nd March 2007

Illegal Wildlife Trade Initiative Goes Global

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A US-led initiative to fight wildlife crime was internationally launched in February this year. The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) aims to “boost wildlife enforcement, reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife and generate high level political support to end the unlawful industry.”

Claudia McMurray, US Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, outlined the three-fold reasons the initiative had been established. Firstly, to protect endangered species and biodiversity, second, to help stem the spread to humans of virulent wildlife diseases, such as SARS, avian influenza and the Ebola virus, and third, to stop organised crime. Wildlife trafficking often uses similar routes and methods as human, drug and arms trafficking.

Originally launched by the US in 2005, the initiative brings together the governments of Australia, India and the UK, as well as a number of organisations, including the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the American Forest and Paper Association, Conservation International, Save The Tiger Fund, the Smithsonian Institution, Traffic International and environmental group WWF.

The CAWT launch took place in conjunction with the UNEP Governing Council (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 16 February 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-02-16/story1.htm).

The US currently chairs the CAWT. The country is the second largest market for illegal wildlife trade, following China.

Additional resources

CAWT website http://www.cawtglobal.org/cawt/public/

“Opening Remarks at High Level Meeting of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking,” US DEPT OF STATE RELEASE, 10 February 2007; “UK Government helps fight against illegal wildlife trafficking,” DEFRA RELEASE, 13 February 2007.