China political commitment building

Environmental Investigation Agency, UK (EIA)

EIA published a report in the lead up to the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in November 2016 examining how 15 countries including China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – had implemented their commitments under the London Declaration of February 2014. This report utilized specific indicators developed by EIA to assess the countries’ actions. EIA continues to review progress made in implementation of the London Declaration particularly by China, Laos and Vietnam.

EIA investigative products are used by a number of stakeholders to push for greater commitment by consumer countries to enforce wildlife crime laws pertaining to the trade in Asian big cats and ivory – see above description in the law enforcement support section.

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

IFAW works with government agencies and industries to make segments of marketplaces unavailable for the trade of endangered species. Since 2008, e-commerce giants Alibaba and Taobao have banned the trade of tigers, elephants, rhinos, pangolins, sharks and many other wildlife parts and products. Banning online trade resulted in sustained reduction of wildlife trade on e-commerce sites. In 2012, an IFAW tipoff led to a government ban on the auction of tiger bone, rhino horn and elephant ivory. The ban reduced mainland China’s auction sales volume by 40% in one year. The 90% reduction of ivory auctions in China positively correlated with PIKE data. To combat illegal wildlife trade on social media sites, IFAW joined the Tencent for the Planet initiative in 2015.

International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)

INTERPOL’s Environmental Security Sub-Directorate seeks to promote the prioritization of work by national police services on environmental crime issues. See also the above INTERPOL reference in the section concerning support of law enforcement (national level).

TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC conducts regular market monitoring surveys along with seizure data analysis and intelligence gathering across the country particularly related to the trades in ivory, tigers, rhinos, pangolins, shark fins and many other products. Research and analysis conducted by TRAFFIC is used to advocate legislative changes – see national level law enforcement support section for additional information.

TRAFFIC was part of the international effort that advocated for an ivory ban in China. Through a public campaign with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), public support for the ivory ban was generated.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UN Environment and UNDP, in partnership with other UN agencies such as UNODC and the CITES Secretariat, along with the Global Wildlife Program, will convene an Africa-Asia Symposium on Strengthening Legal Frameworks to Combat Wildlife Crime in Bangkok in July 2017. The Symposium is expected to bring together up to 10 countries from Africa and 10 from Asia to discuss criteria for effective legal frameworks and priority issues to strengthen application of national laws to wildlife crime. See also reference in UNEP section.

United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)

UN Environment, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and others, will convene an Africa-Asia Symposium on Strengthening Legal Frameworks to Combat Wildlife Crime in Bangkok on 4-5 July 2017 (the Symposium). The key objective of the Symposium is to advance efforts in Africa and Asia Pacific to strengthen and harmonize legal frameworks to combat wildlife crime. Participants will discuss their countries’ experience with developing and enacting laws that address wildlife crime, and debate proposed criteria and recommended minimum requirements for strengthening legislation that governs the multiple aspects of wildlife crime. Opportunities to strengthen political will to combat wildlife crime through the strategic engagement of parliamentarians from Africa and Asia Pacific will also be explored as a secondary objective.The Symposium will support the participation of 20 representatives from Africa and Asia Pacific, and more if additional resources can be mobilized. Target participants will be senior government officials who are responsible for developing or strengthening laws and regulations relevant to combating wildlife crime. China is proposed for inclusion in the Symposium.

WildAid

WildAid assists the Government of China in advancing efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trade – see section below concerning consumer demand.