The Risks of Using Security Approaches in Tackling the Illegal Wildlife Trade


Publisher: BIOSEC

Author(s): Rosaleen Duffy

Date: 2020

Topics: Governance, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources

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Conservation NGOs, donors, governments, international organisations and private companies began viewing the IWT as a wildlife crime, serious organised crime and a global security threat. This reflected concern that the revenues from IWT are a form of ‘threat finance’ which funds and sustains criminals, armed groups and even terrorist networks. This framing prompts and facilitates responses that are security-oriented, and while these can seem the only option in an urgent crisis, we need to be aware of the problems they can produce.