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Runway to ExtinctionAirports and airlines in every region can assist with fighting wildlife trafficking

Published 24 April 2020

  Chinese 

Last year, more than one million illegal wildlife products and live animals were seized at airports, with approximately one seizure recorded every day.

Washington, D.C., USA, April 2020— A new analysis of wildlife trafficking seizures in air transport reveals the illegal wildlife trade to be truly global in scope, encompassing additional airport locations as each year goes by. 

The report, Runway to Extinction: Wildlife Trafficking in the Air Transport Sector, produced by C4ADS as part of the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership, details how traffickers operating in every populated region of the world rely on similar trafficking methods and utilize the same vulnerabilities within the air transport sector as traffickers of other illicit goods.

Runway to Extinction: Airports and Airlines in Every Region of the World Can Assist with Fighting Wildlife Trafficking

Report author(s):
Mary Utermohlen

Publication date:
April 2020

About the ROUTES Partnership

The USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership brings together transport and logistics companies, government agencies, development groups, law enforcement, conservation organisations and donors to disrupt wildlife trafficking activities, and forms a key element of the concerted international response to addressing wildlife poaching and associated criminal activities worldwide. Further information and resources can be found at www.routespartnership.org

About USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for the majority of overseas development assistance from the United States Government and works to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing security and prosperity for America and the world. www.usaid.gov/

About C4ADS

C4ADS is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing data-driven analysis and evidence-based reporting on global conflict and transnational security issues.

About TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working to ensure that trade in wild species is legal and sustainable, for the benefit of the planet and people.

About IATA

IATA represents some 265 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic. For more information, visit IATA.org or follow@IATA2press

About ACI

Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring the global air transport system is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2018, provisional figures show that ACI serves 641 members operating 1,953 airports in 176 countries. For more information, visit aci.aero or follow @ACIWorld. For more information, visit aci.aero or follow @ACIWorld