COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Revision of the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking

Setting the scene

December 2022 will be a critical moment for preserving global biodiversity. Signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet in Montreal for the conclusion of the 15th conference of parties to the CBD. At the meeting, the signatories will seek to shape global efforts to identify and commit to action to halt and reverse the continued destruction of biodiversity. One month earlier, parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) will meet in Panama to review measures to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species. The fight against wildlife trafficking is a crucial part of efforts to halt biodiversity loss. As highlighted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, sustainable use of wildlife is essential to meet the needs of present and future generations. The sustainable use of wildlife can help stop the emergence of new pandemics, provide sustained livelihoods for local and indigenous people, and contribute to restoring and maintaining biodiversity. By contrast, illegal or ineffectively regulated trade in wild species is a threat to this sustainable use. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which is to be adopted at the 15th conference of the parties to the CBD in December, is expected to set concrete goals and targets to ensure that the harvesting, use of, and trade in wild, terrestrial, freshwater and marine species is legal and sustainable. This updated action plan is intended to contribute to the full implementation of this commitment by the European Union and its Member States.

The illegal wildlife trade remains serious and widespread. According to the 2020 World Wildlife Crime Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, no country in the world is unaffected by wildlife trafficking, with a wide variety of species involved, from eels to pangolins to rosewood. Globally, the numbers of seizures of trafficked wildlife by the authorities have fallen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is no evidence that trafficking itself is being curbed.

The illegal trade of species is a driver of global biodiversity loss. The illegal exploitation of species can greatly weaken wild populations, and in some cases drive them to extinction. Species that are not directly targeted for trafficking can also be impacted, for example through by-catch or habitat depletion. The illegal removal of keystone species from ecosystems can also have cascading effects, affecting ecosystem services, destroying important carbon sinks, and disturbing the health and balance of land and water. Moreover, the release of trafficked alien species into the wild in destination countries can disrupt local habitats, with potentially devastating impacts on indigenous species.

Wildlife trafficking also has very destructive socioeconomic impacts. The widespread illegal trade of wild animals can increase the risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases (i.e. diseases originating in animals that go on to infect humans), with potentially devastating results for public health. The destruction of ecosystems which can result from poaching and trafficking often deprives local communities of legal and sustainable forms of income. These legal and sustainable forms of income include nature-based tourism, well-managed trophy hunting, and sustainable trade in wildlife. Well-managed trade in wildlife can actively benefit species conservation, creating incentives for local communities to protect wildlife resources in their environment, while making a sufficient and sustainable living. However, wildlife trafficking is economically extremely lucrative. The attractiveness of wildlife trafficking – given the low risk/high reward nature of the crime – seriously threatens public safety. It weakens the rule of law and legitimate institutions. Wildlife trafficking both benefits from and contributes to corruption while simultaneously supporting further criminal activities. There is clear evidence of links between wildlife trafficking, organised crime (including weapons trafficking) and terrorism.

A key role for the EU to play

The EU functions as a hub for global wildlife trafficking, and has a key role to play in the fight against it. The reported value of the illegal wildlife trade in the EU was a minimum of EUR 4.7 million in 2019 but is likely to be much larger.

The EU is therefore globally well-placed to lead the fight against wildlife trafficking. EU regulations on the wildlife trade make it possible to go beyond the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in protecting endangered species against unsustainable exploitation. For example, the EU’s current rules on trophy hunting expand permit obligations to – and increase scrutiny of – species beyond those in the strictest CITES listing.

The EU can build on its long experience in combating wildlife trafficking

The new action plan builds on the previous EU action plan against wildlife trafficking (2016-2020). The evaluation of the 2016 action plan found that, since 2016, wildlife trafficking has risen up the agenda as a priority issue among a wide range of policymakers, law-enforcement agencies, and stakeholders in the EU and worldwide. The EU and its Member States have now scaled up enforcement measures, for instance through enhanced cross-border investigations with the active involvement of Europol, Eurojust and law-enforcement agencies. This has resulted in more seizures and prosecutions, including through the activities of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). In addition, the European Commission has increased its support to – and cooperation with – relevant national authorities and European networks of enforcement practitioners on tackling environmental crime. The Commission also adopted a proposal for a new EU directive to crack down on environmental crime.

The EU has also led actions against wildlife trafficking in multilateral fora, notably under CITES. To deliver on the EU’s commitment to take further action against elephant poaching and ivory trafficking globally, the EU updated its rules to end most forms of ivory trade in the EU.

The EU and Member States’ diplomatic networks have also been mobilised, actively engaging in bilateral and regional dialogues. Last, but not least, the EU has since 2016 provided substantial funding for capacity building and international action against wildlife trafficking, including for: (i) advocating for the involvement of local communities in source countries of wildlife trafficking; and (ii) providing these local communities with alternative livelihoods and alternative sources of income.

Continued challenges and new opportunities

Despite these efforts, wildlife trafficking, combined with climate change and environmental degradation, continues to put a serious strain on wildlife as well as on people’s livelihoods and security. There have been changes over time in both trading routes and traded species. Moreover, increased use of online platforms for trading in wildlife illegally and the related use of small-parcel services have created new challenges for detecting and investigating this type of crime, calling for new solutions and increased resources. The increase in seizures of trafficked wildlife in the EU since 2016 has not translated into a proportional increase in prosecutions and convictions. A lack of specialised staff, resources and training in many of the Member States and non-EU countries remains a major issue. There is also scope for improving cooperation: (i) within EU Member States; (ii) among EU Member States; (iii) between the EU and non-EU countries; and (iv) with stakeholders and civil society.

Way forward

This revised action plan aims to guide EU action against wildlife trafficking in the period until 2027. Building on the 2016 action plan, it aims to respond to the current challenges in a comprehensive way. While the focus of the action plan is on wildlife trafficking, it makes necessary links with the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations and other related policies.