18th International Anti-Corruption Conference

We are in the midst of a global poaching crisis. Environmental crime, of which wildlife crime is part, is the world's fourth-largest crime sector. Wildlife crime is a development issue; it undermines the rule of law, threatens peace and security, aggravates human rights violations and is facilitated by corruption. It depletes the natural wealth of many poor countries, puts at risk the livelihoods and human rights of local communities. It attracts organised crime and feeds illicit financial transfers. It relies heavily on cross-border trafficking and therefore depends on and stimulates corruption. It implicates the responsibilities of States but frequently evades their jurisdiction. Globally, it endangers an ecosystem, already destabilised by mass production and global consumption patterns, on which all life depends including humans. For these reasons, it is critical for our future to track and control it both locally and internationally. It is at once the iceberg and the canary.