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Established in 1976 in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), TRAFFIC has become a global entity employing over 100 staff members in nearly 30 countries. TRAFFIC is governed by a committee appointed by the WWF and IUCN. The focus of this organization is to provide solutions to conservation issues concerning wildlife trade based on the latest information. Through cooperation with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and 8 regional programmes, TRAFFIC has become a renowned and impartial organization focused on ensuring “that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.”

Mission

"TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. [They envision] a world in which trade in wild plants and animals is managed at sustainable levels without damaging the integrity of ecological systems and in such a manner that it makes a significant contribution to human needs, supports local and national economies and helps to motivate commitments to the conservation of wild species and their habitats."

History

In 1976, the IUCN Species Survival Commission formed a specialist group focused on research and action. After the first TRAFFIC International office in Cambridge and TRAFFIC USA were formed in 1979, offices quickly and steadily became established in other countries. Currently, TRAFFIC has offices in almost 30 countries including East Africa, Japan, Italy, and Mexico. However, TRAFFIC International leads the technical preperations, campaigns, and the collection of illegal wildlife trade information. Regional offices work closely with local government agencies for the implementation for sustainable polices.

Important Staff Members

Steven Broad - Executive Director

Marcus Phipps - Director of Operations

Teresa Mulliken - Programme Development and Evaluation Co-ordinator

Sabri Zain - Global Advocacy Co-ordinator

Crawford Allan - North America Regional Director

Bernardo Ortiz - South America Regional Director

William Schaedla - Southeast Asia Regional Director

Stephane Ringuet - Central Africa Regional Director

David Newton - East/Southern Africa Regional Director

Program

TRAFFIC’s program begins with providing a setting or background. For instance, TRAFFIC valued the trade in wild plants and animals at $160 billion in 1990. Nearly two decades later, in 2009, a reassessment put the value at $323 billion. These trade products range from live animals to food to medicinal products. The organization focuses on gathering information on trade markets and their demand in order to propose appropriate action for sustainable harvests because most wildlife trade is legal and part of the global economy. A more interesting aspect of modern trade is the increase of markets in developing countries and these countries continue to match consumer demand. However, this efficiency leads to the depletion of species or resources, which creates illegal markets. In response to this trend, TRAFFIC created “a strategy for change.” Interventions from either TRAFFIC or local government agencies prompt a response. This can be either effective regulation, incentives, sustainable attitudes, and/or distribution of knowledge. The response, in turn, creates pressure for change which ultimately improves resource status.

Some Studies

ISSC-MAP

"International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP)"

Global modern medicine uses around 50,000-70,000 plant species, of which an estimated 15,000 species are thought to be threatened. Medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species are harvested while in the wild because they are believed to be more potent. In 2004, TRAFFIC joined a joint initiative with the IUCN Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and WWF Germany to create the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) to assess and gather evidence on whether wild collection is sustainable. In February 2007, Version 1 of ISSC-MAP was launched based on the following six principles: “maintain wild MAP resources, prevent negative environmental impacts, comply with laws and regulations, respect customary rights, apply responsible management practices, and apply responsible business practices.” In 2009, Version 2 was refined from the results of using ISSC-MAP in a wide range of “geographic, ecological, and socioeconomic conditions of MAP collection and use.”

Whale Meat Trade in East Asia

"Whale Meat Trade in East Asia: A Review of the Markets in 1997"

Japan and South Korea sell whale meat “openly and legally” through bycatch loopholes in CITES regulations and the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) “moratorium on commercial whaling set in 1982.” TRAFFIC surveyed markets in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea “to assess availability, prices, and possible illegal trade.” They found no evidence of a whale meat market in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, 7 out of 27 Japanese restaurants investigated offered whale meat given advanced notice. DNA analysis conducted on collected samples in Hong Kong revealed the serving of Short-finned Pilot whale which is protected under CITES. The Hong Kong government pursued persecution. In Japan, TRAFFIC found the whale meat market to be large, active, and unregulated. More worrying is the fact that this market was not meeting the human demand. Of the 57 samples taken, most were found to be Minke whale with Fin and Bryde’s whale also present. These illegal meats are sold legally because they are documented as bycatch. South Korea also used bycatch as a means to sell whale meat despite the 1986 ban on commercial whaling. TRAFFIC recommended clearer laws and regulations, mandatory bycatch reporting, keeping an inventory of legally obtain whale meat samples, and tougher enforcement of illegal takers to the Japanese and South Korean governments.

The US Role in the International Live Reptile Trade

"The U.S. Role in the International Live Reptile Trade: Amazon Tree Boas to Zululand Dwarf Chameleons"

The live reptile trade supplies mostly to the pet trade but also to food, education, research, and zoos. In the 1970s, 2 million live reptiles were imported into the US. After laws like the US Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) were enacted, trade declined dramatically thru the 1980s. However, the success was short lived because in 1995 the US imported an estimated 2.5 million live reptiles while also exporting over 9.5 million reptiles making the US a leading supplier. The US made up “more than 82% of the world trade” in the 1990s. With legal trade increasing at such high rates, illegal trade also became a dominating presence in trade markets. In just two decades (1970-1997), the number of smuggling investigations doubled. These findings prompted TRAFFIC North America to put pressure on the government to take the following actions: increase monitoring and protection of traded native species, examine the effects captive breeding and farming on wild populations, determine the threats introduced species have on native species, and review legislation for enforcement efficiency.