PolicyBrief: Dismantling Wildlife Trafficking and Poaching in Africa
NOW EVEN MORE URGENT THAT THE ELEPHANT TROPHY BAN HAS BEEN LIFTED!!
This report was assigned to examine why the United States (U.S.) continues to allow wildlife trafficking and poaching to happen within its boundaries and abroad. There has been very little done to combat these issues within policy making on a federal or state level. Policies involving stricter bans and reprimands must be considered to protect endangered and threatened species.
Background:
The ivory trade is a long, expansive chain that can cross countries, oceans, and continents. The network is comprised of communities, traffickers, fixers, kingpins, and consumers. Poaching and illegal wildlife trade are more often unsustainable and damage populations of animals and plants, forcing them towards endangerment and possible extinction. The continued overexploitation of wildlife for trade is recognized as a major source of this issue and has caused extinctions or severely threatened multiple species. (“Unsustainable and Illegal,” n.d.)
Estimates suggest that within the black-market, ivory is worth $1 for every 100 kilograms (kgs). The average African elephant carries roughly 62.5 kgs of ivory, which converts into about $70,000. (Donnenfeld & Naidoo, 2016.)
It is a national security issue in that these transnational criminal networks have found ways to effortlessly move across borders and avoid law enforcement due to the fact that many African countries lack resources and staffing to track the activities. As a result, since animal trafficking is relatively low-risk and highly profitable, criminal groups and terrorist organizations have been linked to wildlife product trade. (Coons & Flake, 2015.)
It can lead to a loss of biodiversity due to the decline or extinction of a species and negatively impact the other animals, environment, and/or human life. (“Tackling Poaching,” n.d.)
Populations Impacted:
At least 33,000 elephants are killed every year for their tusks, adding to a massive decline and genocide within the population. Scientists have suggested that if the killing continues at this rate, elephants will go extinct in the next decade. (“Elephant Crisis Fund,” n.d.)
Vulnerable African communities are targeted by those associated within this black market, contributing to the expansive network of traffickers, fixers, kingpins, and consumers. In poverty-stricken communities, individuals are given monetary incentives to begin illegally poaching for a minuscule amount. While organizations are trying to combat these efforts by providing jobs as an alternative means to poaching, many communities are still adding to the illegal distribution of this trade. There is a lack of value in protecting wildlife since farming communities and wildlife compete for land. As a result, these communities then feel marginalized by governments and instead collaborate with poachers. (“Tackling Poaching,” n.d.)