Introduction to Biodiversity and Wildlife Trafficking

A particular effort is made to improve the enforcement and application of the existing provisions and ensure that unjustified profits are taken away from wildlife trafficking criminals. EU-wide and internationally, the EU cooperates with EUROPOL, INTERPOL and numerous states, public and semi-public organisations and bodies to stop wildlife trafficking. The EU invests considerable amounts of money in the fight against wildlife trafficking, supports training programs for local populations, finances specific programs for species such as elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, tropical timber, or supports organisations which are dedicated to preserving biodiversity from wildlife trafficking, such as TRAFFIC, the International Consortium to Combat Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), the Wildlife Alliance or the Elephant Action League.

The EU is aware, however, that wildlife trafficking continues, globally as well as within the EU. The critical challenge remains the effective enforcement of the international as well as the EU rules against wildlife trafficking. In order to improve international cooperation, the EU adhered to the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and tries to ensure that all EU Member States recognise wildlife trafficking as a serous organised crime which is punishable by at least four years of imprisonment. Accession to the UN Convention against Corruption is another attempt to promote international legal provisions which support the fight against wildlife trafficking.

Within the EU domestic provisions are regularly updated in order ensure stricter monitoring by the enforcement authorities. Customs officers, the national police, prosecutors, judges and enforcement agencies and bodies play a key role in effectively controlling wildlife trade. Their limited resources and lack of specialisation in police and prosecution make an effective enforcement in all parts of the EU difficult. An EU Commission recommendation of 2007 suggested a whole range of measures which Member States should adopt in order to better protect wildlife and biodiversity against trafficking. The Commission concluded, however, several years later that that the recommendations were unevenly implemented by Member States and had not reached their objective. Also, sanctions differed widely within the EU and cooperation between the different enforcement authorities had considerable potential for improvement. Training and capacity building could be extended. "In sum, what is missing so far is a coordinated and comprehensive approach to wildlife trafficking, addressing both the supply and demand side, and involving all relevant actors in different policy areas".