Criminal networks use the global air transport system for illegal wild traffic, including endangered species and plants, where the value of illegal trade is estimated at more than $ 19 billion every year.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is cooperating with the aviation industry to help enforcement agencies disrupt these trafficking operations, reaffirming the sector’s commitment to combating wildlife crimes on a global scale.
“The aviation sector has been an early engine in addressing the illegal wildlife trade, as it corresponds to its efforts with the broader environmental targets. Over the past 9-10 years, the industry has worked hard to reduce its impact and support the preservation of wildlife,” Daniela Stang, Director of Companies Sustainability at iATA.
“Some species are often transported by air to accelerate live animal trade, while other species are shipped via marine roads due to the nature of trade.
“With regard to the challenges, there are certainly some areas and roads that are trafficking in a large way from others. The problem here is that criminal networks participating in the wildlife trade are very sophisticated and when their enforcement increases on one road, traders are rapidly recovering and understanding it to understanding.
However, although efforts to treat illegal trade, the discovery of species, especially in shipping, is also a big obstacle – it is difficult to discover illegal wildlife products in shipping from passenger luggage, making efforts to reduce trade.
“Although the duty to seize and emulate these criminals depends on national enforcement powers, training for airline employees and raising awareness between passengers and customers is also essential. We need to ensure that everyone – from airlines to customers – understands signs and how to report suspicious activity.”
Industry forecasts
UNIDLLIFE Transport Squad (UFW) gathered stakeholders from all over the transport industry, from airlines to shipping lines, to address the role of transportation in the illegal wildlife trade. The initiative aims to identify and implement strategies to break the supply chain between trapper and consumers of wildlife products.
Two important things here: monitoring and reporting. The parties to the proliferated biological diversity will help trace the wildlife trafficking data, and the most intelligent use of current technologies will improve detection.
“The introduction of applications such as crime plugging has increased significantly from the level of reporting. The fact that these reports can be anonymous to encourage people to progress. This has led to actual cases, while transferring reports to the application of the law, which led to concrete results to combat wildlife trafficking,” Stang explained.
Cooperative
IATA has strengthened its efforts to address wildlife trafficking by forming important partnerships. One of the main initiatives is a memorandum of understanding with the International Trade Agreement in endangered species of wild animals and plants (CITES), which represents a strengthening commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade. In addition, IATA played a major role in the opportunities available for illegal partnerships of endangered species (ROUTES), an initiative led by the United States Agency for International Development.
“Cooperation is completely essential, especially when it comes to sharing intelligence information,” through Stange. “We are working with the stakeholders in the industry to identify and create awareness about good practices and exchange technological developments in the sectors, such as the shipping industry and airlines, experimental programs supported with various organizations and enforcement authorities to develop better examination techniques.”
“Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with CITes in 2015 and the UNICED for Wildlife Initiative in 2016, airlines have made wildlife smuggling illegal part of their discussions. Airlines are still proactive in finding ways to raise awareness and use new technologies to prevent illegal wildlife trade.”
