Wildlife Trafficking
Global wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens. The trade in wildlife is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products. The continued illicit exploitation and trafficking of wildlife contributes to an alarming biodiversity loss, the loss of habitats and the extinction of endangered species.
The CCP is committed to improving Member States' capacity to achieve environmental justice and conservation goals, in line with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Programme is a key actor in the fight against wildlife trafficking. One recent search executed by the PCU in Vietnam discovered 528 kg of pangolin scales, 129 lion teeth, 93 animal claws, three leopard skins and assorted timber.
CCP also delivers advanced specialized training on timber trafficking, a constantly expanding and increasingly globalized illegal market that threatens endangered species, biodiversity, indigenous peoples' livelihoods and the global climate. This issue demands a highly trained and internationally coordinated response.
