International illegal trade in wildlife / Liana Sun Wyler and Pervaze A. Sheikh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wyler, Liana Sun.

Contributor:

Sheikh, Pervaze A.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973 March 3).

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Wildlife conservation--Law and legislation.

Wildlife conservation.

Endangered species--Law and legislation.

Endangered species.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (86 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hauppauge : Nova Science Publishers, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Global trade in illegal wildlife is a growing illicit economy, estimated to be worth at least $5 billion and potentially in excess of $20 billion annually. Some of the most lucrative illicit wildlife commodities include tiger parts, caviar, elephant ivory, rhino horn, and exotic birds and reptiles. Demand for illegally obtained wildlife is ubiquitous, and some suspect that illicit demand is growing. International wildlife smuggling may be of interest to Congress as it presents several potential environmental and national security threats to the United States. Threats to the environment include the potential loss of biodiversity, introduction of invasive species into U.S. ecosystems, and transmission of disease through illegal wildlife trade, including through illegal bushmeat trade. National security threats include links between wildlife trafficking and organized crime and drug trafficking. Some terrorist groups may also be seeking to finance their activities through illegal wildlife trade, according to some experts. Wildlife source and transit countries may be especially prone to exploitation if known to have weak state capacity, poor law enforcement, corrupt governments, and porous borders. The U.S. government addresses illegal wildlife trade through several national and international venues. Congress has passed numerous laws that regulate and restrict certain types of wildlife imports and exports, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Lacey Act and Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, and several species-specific conservation laws. These laws and others establish authorities and guidelines for wildlife trade inspection at ports of entry, and wildlife crime law enforcement and prosecution. Internationally, the United States is party to several wildlife conservation treaties, including the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which serves as the primary vehicle for regulating wildlife trade. Foreign training and assistance programs to combat illegal wildlife trade are also conducted by some federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, which leads an international initiative against wildlife trafficking. The role of Congress in evaluating U.S. policy to combat wildlife trafficking is broad. Potential issues for Congress include (1) determining funding levels for U.S. wildlife trade inspection and investigation; (2) evaluating the effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid to combat wildlife trafficking; (3) developing ways to encourage privatesector involvement in regulating the wildlife trade; (4) using trade sanctions to penalize foreign countries with weak enforcement of wildlife laws; (5) incorporating wildlife trade provisions into free trade agreements; and (6) addressing the domestic and international demand for illegal wildlife through public awareness campaigns and non-governmental organization partnerships. This book focuses on the international trade in terrestrial fauna, largely excluding trade in illegal plants, including timber, and fish.

Contents:

Intro

INTERNATIONAL ILLEGALTRADE IN WILDLIFE

CONTENTS

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

DEMAND

Global Demand

Quantifying U.S. Demand

SUPPLY

Causes

Pathways

CASE STUDY: TRACING THE AFRICAN IVORY TRADE

THREATS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICA

Threats to Biodiversity

Invasive Species.[46]

Disease

Case Study: Illegal Bushmeat Trade

SECURITY IMPLICATIONS

Links to Organized Crime

Links to Drug Trafficking

Links to Terrorism

Links to Weak States and Political Instability

U.S. POLICY

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRADE INSPECTION

Fish and Wildlife Service

Customs and Border Control

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

WILDLIFE CRIME PROSECUTION

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION

CITES

Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking

ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network

ISSUES FOR CONGRESS

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

FUNDING FOR WILDLIFE TRADE INSPECTION ANDINVESTIGATION

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FORCOMBATING WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING

PRIVATE-SECTOR COOPERATION

TRADE SANCTIONS

PUBLIC AWARENESS

APPENDIX A.SELECTED LAWS RELATED TO THEWILDLIFE TRADE

African Elephant Conservation Act.[157]

Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act of 1992.[158]

Animal Health Protection Act.[159]

Animal Welfare Act.[160]

Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.[161]

Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of1984.[162]

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.[163]

Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000.[164]

Endangered Species Act of 1973.[165]

Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 (PellyAmendment).[166]

Fur Seal Act of 1966.[168]

Lacey Act.[169]

Lacey Act Amendments of 1981.[170]

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.[172].

Marine Turtle Conservation Act.[173]

Migratory Bird Treaty Act.[174]

Territories.

Public Health Service Act.[176]

Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994.[178]

Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992.[179]

APPENDIX B.ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL EFFORTSTO COMBAT WILDLIFE CRIME

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

Interpol

World Customs Organization

Group of Eight

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Lusaka Agreement and Task Force

Enforcement Action Plan to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

South Asia Wildlife Trade Initiative

REFERENCES.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record; title from PDF title page, viewed (08/04/2020).

Other Edition:

Abridgement of: Wyler, Liana Sun. Washington, D.C. : Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2008.

ISBN:

1-61942-977-2

OCLC:

841168651