New funding to combat the illegal wildlife trade announced by the UK Government today (Friday, July 1) is expected to improve protection for endangered and threatened plants and animals, including bears, chimpanzees, and pangolins. This funding further solidifies our position as a leading contributor to the end of this destructive illegal trade.
In addition to endangering species, promoting corruption, causing instability, and denying sustainable livelihoods to some of the world’s poorest communities, the illegal wildlife trade is also linked to organised crime and zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Environmental groups fighting the heinous and destructive illegal trade in animals will have access to grants totaling up to £1.5 million.
A project in Laos that will strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of wild bears by criminal gangs and support wildlife sanctuaries to create livelihood and educational opportunities are among the beneficiaries. Two projects in Liberia that are working to reduce the demand for chimpanzee bushmeat and improve wildlife law enforcement are also among the beneficiaries.
The UK is leading global efforts to bend the curve on biodiversity loss, including through the commitment to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss as set forth in the world-leading Environment Act, thanks to the decisive action taken by this government in tackling the illegal wildlife trade head-on.
There are 22 successful projects in total. Other projects being awarded funding today include:
Dismantling illegal pangolin trade in Vietnam
- Building on past successes in three key pangolin habitats, this project will strengthen law enforcement and improve livelihoods to reduce the demand for critically endangered pangolins. (Save Vietnam’s Wildlife)
Preventing the extinction of Bolivia’s critically endangered red-fronted macaw
- The project will fund teams of local farmer stewards to patrol nest sites and help prevent the trafficking of eggs and chicks which threaten the survival of Bolivia’s critically endangered red-fronted Macaws. (Fundacion Natura Bolivia)
Demand reduction for threatened freshwater turtles and tortoises in Bangladesh
- The project will identify freshwater turtle and tortoise consumption and trade hotspots and then conduct a targeted behaviour change campaign to reduce demand for products linked to these species. (Wildlife Conservation Society)
Harnessing technology to end the illegal trade in succulent plants
- This project will address the supply and sale of illegally trade South African succulent plants to stop their extinction. Development of chemical fingerprinting and marking techniques will enable traceability and transparency in trade, while aiding the reintroduction of confiscated plants. (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and TRAFFIC)
International Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith said:
“Biodiversity loss is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces today. The illegal wildlife trade threatens wild animals and plants with extinction, destroys precious ecosystems and increases the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading.
The UK is leading calls to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss and the funding announced today comes less than six months ahead of the crucial COP15 Biodiversity Summit, where we will be leading a coalition of high ambition countries committed to agreeing a new global biodiversity framework with targets for 2030.”
Independent Chair of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Advisory Group John Scanlon said:
“Illegal wildlife trade drives many species towards extinction. It is also highly destructive to entire ecosystems, including their ability to sequester carbon, and is disrupting their ability to support local and indigenous communities. Preventing and combating these serious crimes is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face today.
“The UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund is a unique and highly valuable source of funding dedicated to preventing and combating wildlife crime. Its well-targeted projects – such as reducing the demand for endangered pangolins, protecting the iconic red-fronted macaw and using technology to end the illegal trade in succulent plants – will help ensure that wild animals and plants are not plundered by organised criminals, thereby ensuring their many benefits can flow to the local and indigenous peoples of source countries and the global community.”
Over 136 projects in more than 60 countries have received support from the IWT Challenge Fund to date, totaling more than £43 million. The conservation of elephants along the Nigeria-Cameroon transboundary Green Corridor has been made possible by increasing cooperation between the agencies tasked with protecting this iconic species, and efforts to protect the endangered Royal Bengal Tigers in Nepal have also been supported in the past.
Round 9 of the IWTCF is now open for applications. For more information on previous projects as well as how to apply please visit: https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/