TRADE STUDIES (TS)

This division seeks to evaluate and document the trade in any taxon of flora and fauna and to ensure that this trade and subsistence hunting does not impact the survival of the taxon.

Its main objectives are;

• To assess and document trade in specific wildlife taxon in India as well as the overall trade in flora and fauna.

• To evaluate market dynamics, sources and sinks, trade centers, trade routes, prices and modus operandi of traders for each species studied.

• To study landscape-based wildlife crime including poaching, wildlife trade and identification of wildlife crime hotspots.

• To maintain a database on trade in key species and their parts and set a protocol for dissemination and sharing of data.

• To study poaching and subsistence hunting and evaluate the impacts on specific taxon.

• To publish two kinds of reports, (a) comprehensive report on trade studies of a species and (b) specific intelligence reports which could be used by the enforcement authorities to bring the wildlife criminal to book.

• To recommend action plans for curbing wildlife trade.

Apart from the legal CITES import and export documents and seizures of wildlife specimens and derivatives, no data are available to conduct quantitative analysis of trade in a particular taxon of wildlife in India . Therefore, trade studies are of utmost importance. These could include market surveys, collection of published and unpublished Government and NGO data and undercover investigation. Undercover investigations at times generate specific intelligence information, which will be supplied to suitable enforcement authorities in order to bring the accused to justice. Particular geographical areas will be studied for landscape based wildlife crime. Wildlife crime hotspots will be identified and recommendations will be made to combat wildlife crime in these areas.

All the above mentioned studies help in formulation of taxon-specific policy recommendations to combat the wildlife crime. Should there be a need, specific wildlife crime studies’ reports will be taken to the appropriate authority and will be followed up to take a prompt action. For example, some of the studies that can be undertaken are bear parts trade study, shahtoosh trade investigation, mongoose hair trade investigation, ivory trade study, rhino horn trade study, bushmeat extraction study etc.

If you need more information about this programme, please write to us at - info@wti.org.in