Ahead of the 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP18) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), EIA has prepared comments and recommendations on listing proposals and working documents (as available at the time of writing)
Despite the rapid proliferation of organised Vietnamese wildlife trafficking networks driving illegal wildlife trade globally, the response from the Government of Vietnam has been inadequate and disproportionate to the scale of wildlife trafficking implicating Vietnamese criminal groups.
Unchecked demand for tiger parts and products is now threatening all of the world’s big cats. This visual briefing introduces the different ways in which big cat parts are processed and consumed, major trade hubs and routes, and policies that are undermining efforts to reduce demand.
The National Ivory Action Plans (NIAP) process under CITES is a framework developed in response to the elephant poaching crisis continuing in Africa. The NIAP process is a very useful initiative which, if implemented properly, should contribute significantly to reductions in elephant poaching and illegal trade in ivory
Failure to take any meaningful action against identified networks and individuals has led to international Vietnamese syndicates operating with impunity. Illegal ivory, rhino horn and pangolins are entering Vietnam at alarming rates, accelerating declines in populations of elephants, rhinos and pangolins
Leopards are Asia's most traded big cat, with more than 4,900 seized from illegal trade in Asia since 2000, new evidence indicates the Government of China is issuing permits to trade and use their bones. The trade in leopard bones is primarily to meet demand from Chinese consumers; used in similar ways to tiger bone