Investigating the Impacts of Environmental Policy on Wildlife Trafficking and Illegal Trade
Introduction
Wildlife trafficking and illegal trade have become significant threats to biodiversity, and they negatively impact the social, economic, and environmental domains. Governments worldwide have employed various environmental policies to tackle the issue, but their effectiveness remains questionable. This research study aimed to investigate the impacts of environmental policies on wildlife trafficking and illegal trade.
Methods
To achieve the objectives, we conducted an extensive literature review of various studies, policy documents, and reports. We also examined the global regulatory frameworks and instruments aimed at reducing wildlife trafficking and illegal trade. Furthermore, we analyzed data from the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference held in London in 2018 to identify relevant strategies that government institutions worldwide implemented to combat the illicit trade.
Results
The study found several environmental policies that governments have developed to combat wildlife trafficking and illegal trade. These policies include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the European Union Wildlife Trade Regulations, and the United States Endangered Species Act. Although these policies have achieved some level of success in reducing the illegal trade, they still face numerous challenges. The major challenges include inadequate monitoring and enforcement, weak governance structures, insufficient institutional capacity, and corruption in some countries.
Discussion
The research study showed that the effectiveness of environmental policies in combating wildlife trafficking and illegal trade relies on several factors. These factors include enhancing international collaboration and coordination, strengthening governance structures, promoting transparency, and providing adequate resources for enforcement. Additionally, governments need to adopt a multilateral approach to tackle the issue, involving all stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, private sector entities, and civil society organizations.
Conclusion
Environmental policies are essential in combating wildlife trafficking and illegal trade. However, governments must implement effective measures, including enhancing collaboration and coordination, strengthening governance structures, and providing adequate resources for enforcement. Additionally, governments need to adopt a multilateral approach, involving all stakeholders to tackle the problem. The study recommends further research on the topic to identify innovative and effective measures to combat the illegal trade in wildlife.
References
- Challender, Daniel, et al. "Illegal wildlife trade: scale, processes, and governance." Science 28, no. 6439 (2019): 1330-1333.
- Higgins, Sarah et al. "Poaching and wildlife trafficking in Indonesia: Their political, economic, and ecological implications." Global Environmental Change 54 (2019): 193-202.
- Katto, Margaret, and Taita Vanderberg. "Wildlife crime: A view from the frontline." South African Journal of Science 115, no. 5/6 (2019): 9084.
