16 May 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report 2024
THIS ARTICLE COVERS ‘DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS’ AND THE TOPIC DETAILS OF ” World Wildlife Crime Report 2024”. THIS TOPIC IS RELEVANT IN THE “Environment” SECTION OF THE UPSC CSE EXAM.
Why in the News?
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently released the World Wildlife Crime Report 2024. This document analyses the illegal trade in wildlife from 2015 to 2021.
This is the third edition (2024) of the report, which investigates the trends in the illegal trade of protected wildlife species. It offers a comprehensive examination of the damages and consequences of wildlife crimes, explores what drives the trends in wildlife trafficking, and reviews the current understanding of how effective various interventions are in addressing this issue.
Key highlights of the report:
- The report shows rhinos and pangolins were the most impacted animal species. The rhino Horn Market was the largest, at 29%, and the Pangolin Scales Market was close to 28%.
- The Elephant Ivory Market ranked third at 15%. Other species affected included eels, crocodiles, parrots, cockatoos, various carnivores, turtles, tortoises, snakes, and seahorses, which made up additional, smaller percentages of the market.
- The plant species most impacted were cedars and other members of the Sapindales order, with their market share at 47%. Following closely, the market for Rosewoods was the second largest, covering 35%.
- The Agarwood market and other species from the Myrtales order were the third largest, constituting 13%. Other species that faced significant effects included the golden chicken fern and orchids, among various others.
- The data on seizures of biodiversity products reveals that corals constitute 16% of the total seizures, while crocodilians represent 9%. Elephants and bivalve molluscs each account for 6% of the seizures.
- Among the commodities seized, 16% comprised Coral Pieces, 15% comprised live specimens, and 10% comprised Animal Product Medicines. The remainder included animal meat, shells, small leather goods, and other commodities, each representing a smaller proportion.
What is Wildlife Crime?
Wildlife crime encompasses unlawful actions related to trading, poaching, collecting, and exploiting wild flora and fauna. Such actions often breach both local and global legal frameworks. This crime poses a severe risk to the variety of life on our planet, undermines conservation initiatives, and disrupts the natural balance. Key aspects include:
- Poaching: Illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals. Poaching often targets species for their valuable parts, such as elephant ivory, rhino horns, or tiger skins.
- Illegal Logging: Harvesting timber from protected forests or without appropriate permits affects flora and fauna.
- Unregulated Fishing: It includes practices such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which depletes fish stocks and harms marine ecosystems.
- Trafficking and Smuggling: Involves the illegal trade and transport of wildlife across borders, often facilitated by organized crime networks.
- Environmental Impact: Wildlife crime contributes to the decline of species populations, habitat destruction, and disruption of ecosystems, leading to broader environmental and socio-economic consequences.
India ranks among the top 20 nations for wildlife trafficking and is among the top 10 when it comes to trafficking via air. The primary routes for international wildlife trafficking to and from India are through the Northeast region or airports. Chennai and Mumbai airports are significant centres for such illicit activities.
Way Forward:
Update and refine both national and international laws to be thorough and current, establishing significant penalties to discourage wildlife-related offences. Offer targeted training programs for law enforcement, customs officials, and judicial staff to enhance their skills in recognising and managing wildlife crimes. Ensure organisations fighting wildlife crime are well-equipped with the necessary technology and resources.
Enhance the capabilities of global organizations such as INTERPOL and CITES to lead coordination and intelligence-sharing efforts. Promote collaborative operations among nations to dismantle cross-border wildlife trafficking rings.
Implement initiatives to raise public awareness about the negative impacts of wildlife crime and the critical need for conservation. Engaging local communities in conservation ensures they receive economic advantages from wildlife protection.
Expand and enhance the scale of protected zones, ensuring thorough management and surveillance. Preserve and rehabilitate biodiversity pathways to facilitate the secure movement and genetic diversity among animal communities.
Use uncrewed aerial vehicles and photographic surveillance to oversee wildlife and instantly counteract poaching efforts. Implement GPS tagging and various tracking mechanisms to observe the migration patterns of at-risk animals. Employ data analysis techniques to foresee and avert areas prone to wildlife crimes.
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Mains Practice Question:
Q. Examine the role local communities play in combating wildlife crimes. How do technology and innovation contribute to the fight against illegal wildlife trade?
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