Towards Better Regulation of Wildlife Trade
24 January 2011
"The main issue is that we really don't know how many animals and plants are being illegally transported and traded. This is because data collection methods are inadequate and there is a general lack of robust data analysis of existing data."
Dr Webb, NUS Department of Biological Sciences
WILD ORCHID TRADE: Five species of wild lady slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum; inset Paphiopedilum. callosum) collected in Lao PDR for sale on the southern border with Thailand
PET TRADE: Baby sunbear cub (Helarctos malayanus) sold along the northern Thai-Lao PDR border
(Photo credits: Jacob Phelps)
For NUS PhD student Mr Jacob Phelps, a reconnaissance trip to survey orchid markets at the Thai-Lao border led to greater awareness of the shortcomings of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Mr Phelps, together with NUS Department of Biological Sciences Assistant Professors Edward Webb and David Bickford and Prof Navjot Sodhi and Oxford Brookes University's Dr Vincent Nijman, eventually published a paper on how CITES can be strengthened in the prestigious journal Science (24 December 2010).
Administered by the United Nations Environment Programme, CITES is an agreement among 175 countries, regulating the trade of some 34,000 species. It is the most important global initiative to monitor and regulate international trade of plants and animals.
Today, wildlife trade is a major global conservation issue with numerous species of plants and animals being under threat. "Despite its significance, this area has received far less attention within the scientific community than it deserves. Our review and analysis highlight directions for the necessary future strengthening of CITES," said Mr Phelps, first author of the study jointly with Dr Edward Webb.
"The main issue is that we really don't know how many animals and plants are being illegally transported and traded. This is because data collection methods are inadequate and there is a general lack of robust data analysis of existing data," shared Dr Webb.
With better understanding of why CITES was struggling to regulate wildlife trade, the researchers emphasised the need for systematic data collection, enhanced data analysis, more flexible methods and checks and balances to tackle illicit wildlife trade.Addressing these concerns, they recommended concrete measures such as joint research agendas and agreements among CITES parties and academic institutions to collect baseline data for target species; strengthening analysis networks with partners; increased involvement of civil society in CITES, including academia and non-governmental organisations; as well as engaging external agencies and scientists in reviews of both international and country-level CITES decisions.