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| TRAFFIC (wildlife trade monitoring network) | |
|---|---|
| Name | TRAFFIC |
| Formation | 1976 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| Region served | Global |
| Language | English |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organisation | World Wide Fund for Nature; IUCN (historic) |
TRAFFIC (wildlife trade monitoring network) TRAFFIC is an international non-governmental organization focused on monitoring and reducing illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. Working across continents, it engages with conservation, law enforcement, and policy communities to influence trade in species listed under international agreements and national statutes. TRAFFIC operates at the interface of biodiversity science, commerce, and regulation to inform decision-making by multilateral bodies and national authorities.
TRAFFIC's mission is to ensure that trade in wild animals and plants is not a threat to the conservation of nature by providing evidence for policy and action. It produces analyses and recommendations used by parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and by agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, Interpol, and the World Customs Organization. TRAFFIC partners with conservation organizations like World Wide Fund for Nature, institutions such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and national ministries in countries including China, United States, India, Kenya, and Brazil.
TRAFFIC was established in 1976 during a period of growing international concern about wildlife trade and shortly after negotiations that led to the CITES treaty. Early collaborations involved conservationists and scientists from organizations such as World Wide Fund for Nature and the IUCN Species Survival Commission. In the 1980s and 1990s TRAFFIC expanded its remit as global markets, exemplified by the growth of trade routes through ports like Hong Kong and Rotterdam, increased demand for commodities from regions such as Southeast Asia and the Amazon Basin. Key milestones include contributions to CITES listings debated at Conference of the Parties meetings in cities like Geneva and Bangkok and operational cooperation with law-enforcement stakeholders including INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization.
TRAFFIC functions as a networked NGO with a central coordination office and regional programmes. Its governance includes a board of trustees and advisory panels drawn from conservation science, law enforcement, and policy sectors; board members often have affiliations with institutions like Cambridge University, Smithsonian Institution, Zoological Society of London, and national agencies in Australia and South Africa. Operational units are organized regionally—Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and the Americas—with staff composed of researchers, policy advisers, and enforcement liaisons. TRAFFIC's governance mechanisms interface with multilateral processes including CITES Parties and stakeholders such as UNODC and national ministries of environment and interior.
TRAFFIC implements targeted programs addressing taxa and trade chains: wildlife markets and wet markets in cities such as Wuhan and Bangkok; timber and timber-product chains originating from regions like Central Africa and Borneo; and marine species traded in ports including Panglao and Los Angeles. Projects have focused on species including elephants, rhinos, tigers, pangolins, parrots, cacti, and orchids, informing policy debates at venues like the CITES Conference of the Parties and regional fora such as the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network. Collaborative initiatives include anti-trafficking capacity building with Interpol and customs agencies, community-based interventions with partners like Fauna & Flora International, and market monitoring projects with academic institutions like University of Oxford and National University of Singapore.
TRAFFIC produces empirical reports, databases, and briefings used by policymakers and enforcement agencies. Its research draws on supply-chain analysis, market surveys, seizure data, and forensic approaches developed in collaboration with laboratories affiliated to institutions such as University College London and the Smithsonian Institution. Major outputs have been cited in deliberations under CITES, in environmental assessments submitted to the UN Environment Assembly, and in enforcement actions coordinated by Interpol. TRAFFIC publications address illegal wildlife trade trends, social drivers in consumer markets like China and Vietnam, and species-specific conservation assessments used by the IUCN Red List process.
TRAFFIC engages in policy advocacy at national and international levels, providing technical advice to CITES management and scientific authorities and participating in multilateral negotiations in capitals such as Geneva and New York City. Partnerships span non-governmental groups including Conservation International and BirdLife International, academic partners like Harvard University and James Cook University, and intergovernmental organizations including UNEP and INTERPOL. TRAFFIC's influence extends to shaping legislation and enforcement priorities in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Peru and contributing to international instruments addressing wildlife crime.
TRAFFIC's funding portfolio combines grants and contracts from philanthropic foundations, multilateral donors, and bilateral aid agencies, with major supporters historically including philanthropic organizations like the Arcadia Fund and multilateral mechanisms linked to UNEP. Operational expenditures support field teams, forensic and data-analysis capacities, and training for enforcement partners. Financial and programmatic accountability is maintained through donor agreements and oversight by its board, with operations conducted under legal registrations in countries where it maintains offices, including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and United States.
Category:Conservation organizations Category:Wildlife trade