Tulani Ngwenya
GENEVA, Switzerland – The scourge of the global wildlife crime has compelled the European Union (EU) to award €27 million to the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). The funding will bolster global efforts to dismantle organised crime networks trafficking in wildlife and reduce the demand driving this illicit trade, with strong collaboration from civil society organisations.
The new initiative, GUARD Wildlife – Global United Action to Reduce and Dismantle Organized Wildlife Crime, is set to play a crucial role in conserving endangered species and preserving biodiversity for future generations. The ICCWC, comprising the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Customs Organization (WCO), has spent over a decade working together to combat wildlife crime. Now, with this significant EU investment, they will partner closely with civil society organisations to implement the GUARD Wildlife initiative.
The initiative aims to strengthen global responses to wildlife crime by leveraging the expertise of EU Member States and engaging national authorities and law enforcement agencies. GUARD Wildlife will focus on enhancing coordination and information sharing among key stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels.
According to the latest UNODC World Wildlife Crime Report (2024), illegal wildlife trade remains a pervasive issue, with seizures reported in 162 countries and territories between 2015 and 2021, affecting nearly 4,000 plant and animal species. This initiative seeks to disrupt trafficking networks, reduce illicit trade in wildlife and wildlife products across source, transit, and destination countries, and implement innovative demand-reduction strategies rooted in behavioural science.
GUARD Wildlife will provide expert mentorship and targeted support to national enforcement systems, including customs, police, and border control agencies. The project will also implement cutting-edge strategies to curb consumer demand for illegal wildlife products, using behavioural science to shift market behaviours.
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero expressed gratitude for the EU’s support, stating, “The GUARD Wildlife initiative will enhance coordinated responses at the national, regional, and international levels to combat trafficking in wildlife. ICCWC partners will work side by side with national authorities, providing them with the tools, services, and technical support they need. This project will support achieving the ICCWC Vision 2030 to expand our impact and advance our shared mission of conserving wildlife, combating transnational crime, and ensuring sustainable futures for communities around the world.”
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At the CITES Standing Committee meeting in Geneva this week, Cristina de Avila, Head of Global Environmental Cooperation and Multilateralism at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, underscored the EU’s commitment. “Organised wildlife crime is a serious transnational threat that not only endangers biodiversity but also fuels corruption and weakens the rule of law. This €27 million investment reflects the EU’s unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks, strengthening enforcement, and reducing the demand that drives illegal wildlife trade,” she said.
Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, indicated the broader impact of wildlife crime, stating, “Wildlife crime threatens ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. This project unites partners from diverse sectors and regions to confront the criminal networks driving the illegal exploitation of our planet’s natural resources. UNODC is proud to manage this initiative, leveraging the collective expertise and commitment of our partners to strengthen enforcement, disrupt illicit supply chains, and protect biodiversity.”
As wildlife crime continues to pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, initiatives like GUARD Wildlife represent a critical step forward in the fight to protect endangered species and secure a sustainable future for all.
