Wildlife Trade Specialists

our conservation strategy the thinking behind what we do to protect biodiversity

Panther chameleon Furcifer pardalis, Madagascar © WWF / Martina Lippuner

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Our Conservation Strategy

the strategy behind our work

The goal that drives our current conservation strategy to 2020 is to "reduce the pressure of illegal and unsustainable trade on biodiversity, and enhance the benefits to wildlife conservation and human well-being that derive from trade at sustainable levels".

Our work focused on wildlife trade follows a variety of different approaches to achieve this goal, including working with national and international conventions, governments, enforcement agencies, private sector companies and consumers.

James Compton, Senior Director Asia Pacific

TRAFFIC’s reputation, credibility and influence are built on its development of carefully researched, reliable knowledge and its sound and impartial analysis of wildlife trade issues
James Compton, Senior Director Asia Pacific

our conservation expertise

investigating and analysing

Wildlife trade trends, patterns, impacts and drivers to provide the leading knowledge base on trade in wild animals and plants.

Powdered rhino horn in Pretoria, South Africa – processing of rhino horn in Southern African countries is a recent development within the illicit trade in rhino horn

national and international policy

Informing, supporting and encouraging action by governments, independently and through international co-operation, to adopt, implement and enforce effective policies.

Sabri Zain, TRAFFIC's Director of Policy

private sector guidance

Providing information and encouragement to the private sector on effective approaches to ensure that sourcing of wildlife follows sustainability standards and best practices.

consumer choices

Developing insight into consumer purchasing motivation and guiding the design of effective interventions aimed to dissuade the purchasing of illicit wildlife goods and promote sustainable choices.

TRAFFIC's programme methodology

evidence to influence

We combine research and analysis to produce guidance on a wide range of wildlife trade issues, engaging through targeted communications, tools and training.

research

TRAFFIC’s research and investigations provide the critical evidence base for our work providing insights into emerging wildlife product flows, changes in trade channels, evolving modus operandi and new demand dynamics.

analysis

TRAFFIC’s analysis of trade information draws upon our experience and accumulated knowledge as well as a wide range of collaborations we have established with various specialists.

guidance

TRAFFIC’s guidance on remedial strategies is impartial, evidence-based and practical, highlighting time- tested interventions and drawing attention to new opportunities, encouraging experimentation and innovation.

engagement

TRAFFIC's proactive engagement with governments, businesses, civil society organisations and individuals aims to prompt and support specific actions that are unlikely to be implemented on the basis of providing guidance alone.

our two programmatic workstreams

Our conservation projects are organised around two priority workstreams, each focused on influencing governments, businesses and consumers to achieve positive, systemic change in the areas of CO-OPERATION, REGULATION, SOURCING and PURCHASING.

Action to enhance benefits from sustainable, legal wildlife trade

Our work is focused on enhancing benefits from sustainable and legal trade in wildlife resources by increasing incentives and pathways for businesses, communities and consumers to engage in responsible trade practices

Action to reduce wildlife crime and illegal trade

Our work is focused on achieving a sustained reduction in illegal wildlife trade by increasing the risks and reducing the rewards associated with trading in wildlife contraband, reducing criminal motivation and engagement in the illicit trade that is driving the poaching crisis

regulation

implementation action by governments designing, governing and enforcing effective regulation and management systems

co-operation

collective policy action by governments through international conventions and agreements to guide and reinforce individual national actions

sourcing

action by businesses and public procurement agencies to use sustainability standards and traceability systems for wildlife product sourcing and to avoid involvement in illicit trade

purchasing

action by wildlife consumers to choose sustainably and legally sourced products and avoid illicit goods

our programme framework

Our theory of change within wildlife trade is summarised in the programme framework below, demonstrating how our Evidence to Influence theory resonates throughout subsequent approaches and outcomes to deliver our 2020 objectives.

our theory in practice

Find out how our conservation strategy translates into national and international projects.

projects and approaches

Keep up with what we do

TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working exclusively on wildlife trade in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
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General Information

In case you missed it

TRAFFIC is a registered UK charity, Number 1076722.

Our headquarters are located at TRAFFIC, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ

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Projects and Approaches»

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Species we work with