Read and download the United for Wildlife solutions document that the Duke of Cambridge presented at the ZSL London conference about the International Wildlife Trade. United for Wildlife has identified the following commitments as its key areas of focus: • To strengthen site protection on areas that contain target species with the roll out of SMART technology (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) such as satellite nodes, ground sensors, GPS trackers and drones; • To reduce the demand of illegal trade products by working with Governments and other organisations, such as marketing experts and youth leaders, to encourage appropriate consumer messaging to those who buy rhino horn, ivory, tiger and pangolin parts and products; • To engage with the private sector to encourage a 'zero-tolerance' approach towards the illegal wildlife trade. This may include working with businesses that may be unwittingly drawn into the trade chain; • To support the judiciary and local authorities in their efforts to fight wildlife crime; • To support local communities, whose livelihoods are directly affected by the illegal wildlife trade.

1. briefing and solutions
12th February 2014
ROYALROUNDATION.COM

2. introduction
Many of the world’s wildlife species are in
crisis. Today, driven by corruption, greed
and demand, we see extraordinary levels of
poaching and illegal trade in large, charismatic
mammals like elephants, rhinos and tigers,
posing a serious threat to their survival. This
threat goes far beyond these iconic species
and encompasses many other species,
such as pangolins – in the eyes of some, less
charismatic and certainly less well studied
animals, but nevertheless, representative of the
wide array of species threatened by the illegal
wildlife trade.
United for Wildlife (UfW) is an unprecedented
collaboration between seven international
conservation organisations, convened by HRH
The Duke of Cambridge and committed to
focusing increased attention and action on the
most pressing conservation issues of our time.
With the support of The Royal Foundation of
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry, UfW will bring attention to acute
conservation problems, the most pressing of
which is the rapid escalation of the illegal wildlife
trade. This is having a devastating effect on wild
populations of some of the largest and most
iconic species: elephants, rhinos and tigers as well
as lesser known animals such as the pangolin.
In response, UfW commissioned a review of
the impact of this trade by TRAFFIC, leading
to an action plan that could be implemented
by UfW organisations, above and beyond
the current work they are doing. This also
includes recommendations for actions for our
Government partners. This initiative will achieve
two key objectives: a) ensuring that UfW partners
work together more collaboratively to achieve a
greater impact on the illegal wildlife trade on a
much larger scale, and b) bringing new funding
to the vital effort to reduce the trade and its
devastating consequences.
In addition to the UfW partnership, we know that
many other actors will need to join the global
effort to reduce the illegal wildlife trade. We
will wholeheartedly work with a broad range of
Governments, NGOs, industry and consumers to
restore wildlife populations to healthy levels.

3. elephants
2011 – AN ANNUS HORRIBILIS
FOR THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT
The African Elephant population is estimated
to be around 500,000 animals. Poaching on
the continent has steadily increased since
2006, reaching a peak in 2011. At least 22,000
elephants are estimated to have been illegally
killed across Africa in 2012. Poaching rates on
average exceed population growth rates across
monitored elephant sites, and elephant numbers
may have been in overall decline since 2010. Of
particular concern is the high level of poaching
in Central and West Africa where elephant
populations are considered to be regionally
Endangered and Vulnerable respectively.
Even areas traditionally considered elephant
strongholds are not immune to the poaching
surge; based on a census conducted in late
2013, Tanzania’s Ministry for Natural Resources
and Tourism estimated 66% of the elephants in
Selous Game Reserve and its surroundings have
been lost to poaching in just four years.
The surge in poaching of African Elephants is
reflected in the steady increase in large-scale
ivory seizures, with illegal trade rising to the
highest levels in at least 16 years in 2011 and
remaining stable at unacceptably elevated
levels through 2012. Preliminary indicators
suggest that even higher levels of illegal trade
may be reached in 2013.
Of particular concern, these large-scale seizures
typically indicate the participation of organised
transnational criminal syndicates, which appear
to be increasingly Asian-run but Africa-based
operations, and have become progressively
involved with the trafficking of large quantities of
ivory from Africa to Asia.
Asian Elephants are under threat too: illegal
trade in live elephants poses a significant
threat, opening the door to the ‘laundering’
of elephants from the wild as domesticated
elephants destined for tourist camps, zoos,
etc, as well as the possibility of ivory from wild
elephants being passed off as originating from
domesticated animals.
China remains the main destination for this
illegal ivory. Research shows the demand for
ivory because of its ‘rarity’, ‘luxury’, and ‘status’
value emanates from Chinese middle and
upper-middle class consumers; the middle class
in China alone is forecast to increase from 350
million to 600 million people by 2020.

4. rhinos
YEARS OF CONSERVATION
WORK BEING UNDONE
From the brink of extinction at the end of the 19th
century when just a single population of some
20-50 animals remained in South Africa, the
recovery of the southern White Rhino stands as
one of the 20th century’s greatest conservation
achievements. As a result of far-sighted and
painstaking conservation and protection efforts
in South Africa for nearly one hundred years, that
handful of survivors has given rise to a population
of more than 20,000 White Rhinos today. The
other rhino on the continent, the Black Rhino,
was also decimated by poaching to just 2,410
by 1995 but concerted conservation efforts,
particularly involving local people, saw numbers
recover to 5,081 animals by 2013. However, the
recent upsurge in poaching since 2008, fed by
a growing demand for rhino horn in Asia, mainly
Vietnam, threatens to reverse these conservation
successes. In 2013, South Africa, home to 83%
of Africa’s rhinos, experienced the highest levels
of rhino poaching for over 100 years when it lost
1,004 rhinos to illegal killing – compared to only
13 rhinos poached in 2007. Despite significant
investment in anti poaching and trafficking
measures, South Africa has recorded the most
rhino losses on the continent, with 2,658 animals
killed between 2008 and the end of 2013.
There are also three species of Asian rhino, all
of which are at risk from the illegal wildlife trade.
Due to strong anti-poaching measures in India
and Nepal, the Indian Rhino has increased to
over 3,400 animals, but constant vigilance is
needed as poaching pressure grows.
The Sumatran and Javan Rhinos are among the
most endangered species on earth, reduced to
about 100 and 50 animals respectively, both at
serious risk of extinction.
The drastically changing nature of the demand
for rhino horn has contributed greatly to this
surge. Consumption is no longer only about
traditional medicinal use but is now also driven
by lifestyle and recreational choices, social
status and corporate advancement. Rapid
economic growth in Vietnam has given rise
to increased wealth and disposable income
and new uses for rhino horn; it’s promotion as
a cure for cancer and other terminal diseases,
as a means of demonstrating wealth, status
and social connections through gift giving, and
even consumption as a cure for hangovers.
Marketing of rhino horn is now primarily through
social networks, and not traditional medicine
shops, although much of the ‘rhino horn’ for
sale in Vietnam has been shown to be fake.
Research tells us that the demand is generally
from men over 40 who are educated, successful
and influential individuals; important information
when designing strategies to reduce demand.
In light of these fast-changing dynamics, there
is an urgent need to explore new approaches to
understanding and influencing the drivers behind
consumer demand for these products.

5. tigers
KING OF JUNGLE NO MORE
At the turn of the last century around 100,000 tigers
ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to
the eastern coast of Russia. By 2010 this iconic big
cat’s numbers had plummeted to some 3,200 –
3,500 in the wild. Although habitat loss has been a
major factor in this decline, the primary threat to tigers
today is from poaching for the illegal trade in highvalue products like their skins, bones, meat and tonics
produced from them. Over the last 14 years seizures
have equated to, on average, a minimum of 110
tigers killed per year. In India alone an estimated 528
tigers have been poached since 2000.
International trade in tigers and their parts and
products was banned under CITES in 1975. China
banned all use of tiger parts domestically in 1993.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners
have mostly observed this ban, with the species
officially removed from the Materia Medica.
However, illegal trade has continued with most
range states suffering poaching of tigers and
some key countries clearly implicated in the trade
routes from source to the consuming countries of
China, Vietnam and Thailand.
Demand has shifted from TCM to the use of bone
in tonics, particularly tiger bone wine. While some
may derive from captive sources, poaching and
trafficking of tiger bones has continued. Skins too
are often traded and are openly for sale in some
places, with whole skins being used as a status
item for decorative purposes. Whether poaching
is mainly driven by the demand for skins or bones
or both is unclear, but what is apparent is that the
main driver is for their use as a status symbol.

6. pangolin
SLIPPING AWAY UNDER THE RADAR
Pangolins are unusual mammals covered in
overlapping scales composed of keratin; the
same substance as hair, nails and rhino horn.
These scales have long been used in traditional
Asian medicines and pangolin meat is also
valued by Chinese communities, where it is
consumed as a warming ‘winter’ meat and is
believed to nourish the kidneys. Pangolins are
also consumed as a source of protein throughout
South-East Asia as well as South Asia.
The primary threat to pangolins in Asia today
is poaching, largely for the currently prohibited
international trade in meat and scales;
nevertheless, large-scale seizures continue
to be made. Sunda Pangolins are the most
frequently seized species (with more than an
estimated 150,000 seized since 2000), with
single shipments often equating to more than
1,000 individual animals. All four Asian pangolin
species are at risk, with Chinese and Sunda
Pangolins considered by experts to be Critically
Endangered. With the depleted supply in Asia,
there is some evidence (from recent seizures)
that African species are now being exploited to
supply the Asian market.
With the sustained fast-paced economic growth
in the primary markets of China and Vietnam
in the last two decades, demand will likely only
grow. As with rhino horn, the rarity of pangolins,
their high value and the notion of illegality
appear to add to their desirability in Vietnam.

7. impact
WILDLIFE CRIME UNDERMINES THE
RULE OF LAW AND MORE
Today, there is growing recognition of wildlife
crime’s links to wider issues of global and
national interest – wildlife crime is now clearly
seen as undermining rule of law, as an agent of
corruption, a barrier to economic development
and as a national security risk.
The impacts of illegal trade stretch well beyond
the threat to the target species.
Local people, who hold rights or stewardship
authority to conserve, use and manage wildlife
species are having their livelihoods eroded by
poaching. Wildlife rangers risk their lives to protect
countries’ wildlife resources, while national
economies lose their natural resources and have
to divert efforts into tackling poaching.
Evidence shows the increasing involvement of
organised crime groups in illegal wildlife trade,
often using established networks and syndicates
for smuggling drugs, arms and humans. Wildlife
trade also facilitates money laundering from
other illegal activities. This undermines the rule
of law and good governance, creating potential
havens for other groups, with some (though
limited) evidence to suggest that this stretches to
terrorist organisations.
Corruption, collusion and simply a lack of
political will to enforce laws all combine to
facilitate widespread illegal trade from source
to consumer countries. Increased Asian private
sector investment in Africa has meant more
foreign nationals are able to develop these
trading links.
While recent years have seen unsustainable
levels of poaching and illegal wildlife trade, in
response there have been unprecedented levels
of attention and commitment to stopping wildlife
crime from the highest political levels and from
international organisations and institutions, for
which wildlife crime was once only of peripheral
interest. This high-level engagement may be
the best opportunity we have to stop illegal
wildlife trade. Political will may fade but actions
we take now must be designed to have longterm and sustained impact. The expansion of
the engagement of organised crime syndicates
and other criminal organisations in wildlife crime
necessitates an equally organised, scaled-up
response from governments and NGOs alike.

8. responses
needed to end
the illegal
wildlife trade
1. trengthen site protection, including national
S
commitment to protection and patrolling,
local incentives for conservation and the use
of new technologies:
More resources are needed for increased
and better-targeted anti-poaching actions
using innovative tools and technology,
and for more well-trained, equipped and
motivated enforcement personnel. At the
same time, efforts are needed to provide
positive incentives for local communities
to support local conservation actively, in
particular to improving livelihoods as a direct
result of taking part on conservation. Both of
these will lead to stronger protection at the
site level, reducing illegal hunting, improving
enforcement and making it harder for
criminals to acquire illegal wildlife products.
2. Action to expose and suppress trafficking:
Adequate resources and tools are needed to
catch and punish criminals and ensure the
private sector does not facilitate illegal trade.
Messaging about the damaging impacts
and seriousness of wildlife crime needs to be
reinforced regularly.
Laws must be adequate to punish the crimes
and the judiciary encouraged to implement
them to bring traffickers to justice. Justice
Ministries need to ensure that judges and
prosecutors recognise the seriousness of such
illegal activities and that penalties imposed
provide an effective deterrent. Unless all
appropriate government departments are
involved and motivated, commitments made
and actions taken by governments to address
wildlife crime are likely to be uncoordinated
and will fail to address the issue effectively.
The private sector must understand the role
they may play, whether wittingly or unwittingly,
in enabling illegal trade and how to avoid
perpetrating it. This must include strong efforts
to expose and stop corruption at all levels.
3.
Reduce consumer demand:
Without focused effort to address the main
driver of the current poaching crisis – the
demand for these products – enforcement
action alone may prove futile. Approaches
to reduce demand in the past have often
focused on raising awareness of the illegality
of buying products through advertising
campaigns often based around the threats
to the species. However, as evidenced with
rhino and pangolin consumption in Vietnam,
the very fact that some species are rare may
increase their desirability. Such approaches
may not only be of limited effectiveness
but may even fuel demand. Understanding
of demand reduction strategies must be
developed, learning from advances in
disciplines such as behavioural economics
and new marketing approaches and based
on a clear understanding of the attitudes and
behaviours that need to be changed, the
factors that influence them, and the triggers
that can shift them.
4. Long-term commitment:
Different players, whether governments, NGOs,
academics, the private sector, or the public
have various roles to play in implementing
these responses. Urgent and immediate
actions are needed now but without long-term
commitment, short-term wins are unlikely to
lead to a sustained reduction in the threat.
A strong evidence base is vital in order to know
who to target, where to target and how to
target effective solutions.

9. United for Wildlife
solutions
The UfW partners discussed the most urgent
and effective actions they could undertake
together as NGOs in order to achieve longterm reduction in the illegal wildlife trade and
the threat that it poses to the species and
local communities that are affected. UfW
partners will collaborate on the following
areas of activity:
for protection of high-value species at over 65
sites (with a strong emphasis on community
incentives).
Strengthening Site-based Protection
Reducing Demand
With an extensive field presence and large
network of collaborating institutions, United
for Wildlife is in a strong position to rapidly
improve conservation effectiveness at sites
with commercially valuable species including
rhino, elephant, tigers and pangolins. This will
start with the immediate roll out of SMART, a
Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool, to over
200 sites that contain target species. SMART
is designed to improve protection, increase
ranger efficiency and evaluate overall
progress in preventing crime.
UfW partners will coordinate with other
institutions with shared objective to ensure
appropriate messaging is developed and
consumer behaviour is influenced positively so
that significantly fewer people buy illegal rhino
horn, ivory, and tiger and pangolin parts and
products.
UfW partners will work with Government
partners to:
•
Implement SMART at over 200 sites critical for
rhino, elephants, tigers and pangolins and
develop new technology to improve SMART
monitoring and surveillance.
•
Develop a new United for Wildlife standard for
sites with high-value species threatened by
wildlife crime, including the identification of
successful models for ensuring incentives for
local communities to engage with and derive
livelihood benefits from conservation.
• Implement the United for Wildlife standard
•
Work with Governments and others including
multilateral financial institutions, to increase
significantly financial commitments to ending
poaching and wildlife trafficking.
UfW partners will:
• eliver carefully researched, co-ordinated
D
strategies to reduce significantly demand for
elephant, rhino, tiger and pangolin parts and
products in China, Vietnam and Thailand.
• ork with Governments and encourage them
W
to lead well researched demand reduction
campaigns, using targeted strategies to
influence consumer behaviour.

10. United for Wildlife
solutions
Strengthening Criminal Justice Responses
T
he adequacy of legal systems to deal with
crimes relating to illegal wildlife trade varies
between countries, as does the application
of these. UfW aims to create incentives for the
proper functioning of judicial processes by
gathering information, providing this information
for action to law enforcement, monitoring its use,
and publicising successes.
UfW partners will also provide capacity
building assistance to judiciary and
enforcement authorities so they are equipped
with the know-how to do their jobs and
appreciate the significance of their efforts in
the context of wildlife crime.
UfW partners will:
•
Establish a portal holding information on
existing wildlife legislation, poaching, arrests,
prosecutions, convictions and penalties data
which can be used to shine a spotlight on
wildlife crime and encourage governments to
improve their wildlife prosecution record with
the aid of champions and sanctions.
•
Improve the capacity of judiciary and
enforcement authorities working to combat
wildlife crime.
• he UfW partnership will actively encourage
T
commitments from governments to:
i. educe poaching of elephants, rhinos, tigers
R
and pangolins and trafficking of their products
through significant improvements in law
enforcement at all levels of the trade chain
ii. mprove criminal justice responses for wildlife
I
crime, legislative reform where necessary and
demonstrable increases in prosecution rates
Private Sector Engagement
Private sector businesses throughout the
entire trade chain may be drawn into illegal
wildlife trade either deliberately or unwittingly.
UfW partners are committed to combating
engagement in illegal wildlife trade by private
sector employees (e.g. forestry, agricultural,
mining, transport, power industries, financial
institutions, retail businesses, tourism and
safari-hunting operators) and in the use of
company infrastructure and operations to
facilitate such trade. This will be achieved
through a combination of bolstering existing
measures and developing and integrating
new measures.
Private companies will be encouraged to
declare and implement a ‘zero-tolerance’
towards illegal wildlife trade while companies
will be held accountable for increasing their
sustainability in key business sectors where
illegal wildlife trade poses a particular threat.
A ‘zero-tolerance’ commitment will include
agreement to undertake specific actions
tailored to the company’s sector, designed
to ensure that the company limits to the
greatest extent possible its involvement in
illegal wildlife trade.
UfW partners will:
•
Secure zero-tolerance commitments towards
illegal wildlife trade by leading private
companies within each target sector.
• ork with partners in key sectors such as
W
forestry, mining and transportation to formulate
and introduce new industry standards to
reduce illegal wildlife trade.

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