World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 was launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- It is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime.
- It was established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
- UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
World Wildlife Crime Report 2024
- It is the third report in a series following the 2020 and 2016 publications.
- Deals With: It provides an updated focus on trends in the illegal trade in wildlife species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
- Considered Data: The seizure data in the report documents illegal trade in 162 countries and territories during 2015–2021, which impacted around 4,000 plant and animal species—3,250 of which are listed in the CITES Appendices.
- Take Reference From: The data in the report is largely derived from the available national annual illegal trade reports, which CITES Parties are required to submit each year.
- New Emphasis: In this edition, new emphasis is placed on the assessment of the causes and impacts of wildlife trafficking and associated crime at a global level.
Key Highlights of the Report
Trafficking in Animal and Plant Products
- The rhino (animal) and the cedar (plant) – most affected by global illegal wildlife trade during 2015-2021.
- Rhino horn – largest portion of the illegal animal trade at 29%, followed by pangolin scales at 28% and elephant ivory at 15%.
- Other illicitly traded animal species – Eels(5%), crocodilians(5%), parrots and cockatoos(2%), carnivores, turtles and tortoises, snakes, and seahorses.
- Major illegally traded plants – Cedars and other Sapindales like mahogany, holy wood, and Guiacum made up the biggest market at 47%, followed by rosewoods at 35% and agarwood and other myrtales at 13%.
Commodities in Trade
- Among the commodities, coral pieces were found the most and comprised 16% of all seizures during 2015-2016; live specimens – 15%, while medicines made of animal products constituted 10% of all seizures.
Bone Processing to Move to the Source Nations
- Report highlighted that traditionally, bones are processed in destination countries (Far East) but may now be processed closer to where the animals are sourced (Africa, Latin America, Asia).
- This is concerning because it would be Easier to traffic as processing like boiling bones into paste makes it easier to smuggle, it would be unknown if this is for local use, export, or both.
- The report notes concerns about substituting lion and jaguar bones for tiger bones, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine.
Off-Track from SDG Goal No.15.7
- In 2024, the UNODC introduced a new indicator to track progress on SDG target 15.7, which aims to stop illegal wildlife trafficking.
- Rising Illegal Trade suggests that the proportion of illegal wildlife trade compared to all wildlife trade (legal and illegal) has been increasing since 2017.
- The problem worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2021), with wildlife seizures reaching their highest levels at 1.4-1.9% of global trade.
- Compared to 0.5-1.1% in previous years, the rise in illegal wildlife trade suggests the world is not on track to achieve SDG target 15.7 by 2030.
Impacts of Wildlife Crime and Trafficking
Environmental Impacts
- Species Overexploitation: Wildlife crime leads to degradation of biodiversity through overexploitation, leading to population reductions and extinction threats. Species diversity is vital for functioning ecosystems.
- Ecological Impact: Overexploitation of wildlife can lead to long-term ecological problems such as sex-ratio imbalances and slowed reproduction rates.
- Population reductions from trafficking can disturb species interdependencies and essential ecological functions such as food chain and food web.
- Dispersal of Invasive Species: Illegal wildlife trade can contribute to the introduction of non-native species into new environments, potentially leading to invasive species that harm native ecosystems and natural resources.
Social and Economic Harms
- Well-being and Livelihoods: Wildlife crime, including illegal trade, undermines nature’s benefits, impacting food, medicine, energy, and cultural values.
- A World Bank study estimated global economic losses from illegal wildlife trade at USD 1–2 trillion per year, largely from the value of ecosystem services not priced by markets.
- Private Sector Costs and Losses: Wildlife crime harms economies by increasing costs and losses for businesses in the legal wildlife trade and related services.
- It reduces resource access, causes unfair competition, damages reputations, and incurs extra legality verification costs.
- Health Risks: Wildlife trade poses significant risks of disease transmission to both humans and animals, as well as threats to natural ecosystems, livestock, and agricultural systems.
- Harm to Environmental Defenders: Police, customs, wildlife rangers are also vulnerable to harassment, violence by poachers, and even loss of life.
Governance Harms
- Undermining the Rule of Law: Illegal wildlife trade undermines the rule of law and weakens natural resource management and criminal justice responses.
- Corruption facilitates this trade, compromising legislation and political stability. Additionally, money laundering is linked to wildlife crime, though financial investigations are limited.
- Loss of Government Revenues: Wildlife crime causes significant government revenue losses in source countries by evading legal harvest fees, taxes, and tourism income.
- Financial Costs of Enforcement: Wildlife crimes have driven increased government spending on conservation, law enforcement, and criminal justice globally.