Natural resources worldwide are under pressure. By working with other governments, organizations, and people around the world, the United States can meet global conservation challenges. One of these is illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts amounting to $10-$20 billion per year-second only to arms and drug smuggling.
This illegal trade is fueled by unchecked demand for exotic pets, rare foods, trophies, and traditional medicines. The slaughter to meet this demand is driving tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, exotic birds, and many other species to the brink of extinction. In addition, the alarming rise in virulent wildlife diseases, such as avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which can be spread by illegal wildlife trade and endanger public health.
To confront the growing threats to global wildlife from poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, the State Department created the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT). The coalition consists of U.S. Government agencies, other governments, and private sector partners. This coalition aims to bring the public and private sectors together to accomplish three goals, improving wildlife enforcement, reducing consumer demand, and catalyzing high-level political will to fight illegal trade in wildlife.
The Coalition complements and reinforces existing national, regional and international efforts to combat illegal traffic in wildlife. William Wijnstekers, Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) expressed his support for the Coalition in September 2008 with these words: "The CITES Secretariat is pleased to be associated with the efforts by the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) to gain such attention and priority. The international multi-government and multi-organization CAWT partnership is a welcome addition to our ongoing battle against wildlife criminals."
This illegal trade is fueled by unchecked demand for exotic pets, rare foods, trophies, and traditional medicines. The slaughter to meet this demand is driving tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, exotic birds, and many other species to the brink of extinction. In addition, the alarming rise in virulent wildlife diseases, such as avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which can be spread by illegal wildlife trade and endanger public health.
To confront the growing threats to global wildlife from poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, the State Department created the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT). The coalition consists of U.S. Government agencies, other governments, and private sector partners. This coalition aims to bring the public and private sectors together to accomplish three goals, improving wildlife enforcement, reducing consumer demand, and catalyzing high-level political will to fight illegal trade in wildlife.
The Coalition complements and reinforces existing national, regional and international efforts to combat illegal traffic in wildlife. William Wijnstekers, Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) expressed his support for the Coalition in September 2008 with these words: "The CITES Secretariat is pleased to be associated with the efforts by the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) to gain such attention and priority. The international multi-government and multi-organization CAWT partnership is a welcome addition to our ongoing battle against wildlife criminals."
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