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Combatting Illegal Trade in Wildlife

Transnational criminal gangs are exploiting the increasingly interconnected air transport system to traffic illegal flora and fauna. Aviation is committed to playing its part in stopping this illegal trade in wildlife, worth at least $19 billion annually.

Although the duty for capturing and prosecuting these criminals rests with national enforcement authorities, airline staff can provide an important source of additional intelligence.

IATA is working with the aviation industry to support the work of enforcement agencies in combating the illegal trade in wildlife.

Playlist: Watch Prince William, Lord Hague and Sir Tim Clarke on the United for Wildlife Taskforce

Awareness training for airline staff

New flyer: Airlines go Wilder (pdf)
Guidance on Prohibited Carriage of Wildlife by Passengers (pdf)
Best practices for cabin crew: Safe Handling of Escaped Animals (pdf)
See the posters, training modules and expert contacts developed by the ROUTES partnership
The video below, supported by the ROUTES Partnership, highlights the important role front-line workers in the industry can play to catch wildlife traffickers. Use it and share it!

The United for Wildlife Transport TaskForce working with the aviation industry

From airlines to shipping lines – the Taskforce aims to jointly examine the role of the transport industry in the illegal wildlife trade and aims to identify ways the sector can break the chain between suppliers and consumers.

The 2016 IATA Annual General Meeting unanimously endorsed a resolution denouncing the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products and pledging to partner with government authorities and conservation organizations in the fight against the traffickers of protected species.

IATA is among the signatories to the UfW Transport Taskforce Buckingham Palace Declaration which aims at reducing the illegal trade of wildlife. 48 airlines have also signed up as well as a number of other aviation stakeholders, underlining the aviation industry’s commitment to sustainability.

IATA press release: Airlines are United for Wildlife
IATA press release: Airline Industry Pledges to Fight Against Wildlife Trafficking

Partnerships

IATA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) .

IATA is also a core member of the USAID ROUTES program. More about the IATA-ROUTES partnership.

Join the IATA Wildlife Task Force

The ENCOM, IATA’s environmental governance body, has formed the IATA Wildlife Task Force (IWTF) to identify and review emerging wildlife conservation issues within the industry and develop appropriate response. The IWTF holds meetings/webinars approximately every two months, and is open to all IATA member airlines. Please contact us for more information at wildlife@iata.org

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Additional information

Airlines. magazine
www.airlines.iata.org
Aviation and the environment
www.enviro.aero