Nicholas Hamp-Adams

English 1101-112
Prof. Evans
Research Essay
April 17, 2016
How is poaching and the illegal wildlife trade affecting the biodiversity of the
African continent?
Africa is currently experiencing one of the largest wildlife over-exploitation
epidemics the world has ever seen. Few are aware of just how important it is
that we take immediate action to curb poaching and wildlife trade before it is
too late. Many have the image of the Lion King when the thought of Africa
comes to mind. The sad truth is far from the vast herds and endless plains
that Hollywood has depicted. Corruption, war and extreme poverty are the
current driving forces behind poaching and illegal wildlife trade. In 2009 it
was estimated that the illegal wildlife trade was worth $323 billion. The
largest majority of this trade was out of South America and Africa to Asian
countries and the exotic pet industry. In Africa, flocks of African Grey Parrots
are captured for pets every hour, 100 elephants are poached daily for their
ivory, forests are striped by the acre every minute, cycads are being poached
at an alarming rate making their species the most threatened on earth and
the Black Rhino population has decreased by 98% since 1980, largely due to
Asian demand of rhino horn for traditional medicine.
Clarke, J. Save me from the Lions Mouth: Exposing Human Wildlife Conflict
in Africa.
Struik Nature, July 2012.
A detailed source of the affects of corruption and poverty that has led
to the destruction of habitat, promoted poaching and allowed illegal
activities taking place to go unchecked for decades with the rest of the
world oblivious to what is happening.
Deutsch, J. For Africas Elephants Bearing Witness Bears Fruit. National
Geographic, Voices:
Saving Elephants, A Forum for Discussion.
May 5, 2015.
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/05/for-africas-elephantsbearing-witness-bears-fruit/
A fascinating blog on how Chelsea and Hillary Clintons visit to Africa
raised awareness of the plight of elephants in east, west and southern
Africa. Mentioned is the impact fundraising and inter-governmental
cooperation is helping to reduce poaching statistics with implementing
training of rangers on the ground and the introduction of sniffer-dogs to
track poachers.
Himbert, C. A Comprehensive Approach to Combating the Criminal Networks
Behind ............ Environmental Crime. UN Chronicle, The
Magazine of the United Nations, Vol. L1 No. 2, September 2014.

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http://unchronicle.un.org/article/comprehensive-approach-combatingcriminal-networks-behind-environmental-crime/
Article detailing how environmental crimes in Africa and around the
world could and should be combatted using transnational organizations
such as INTERPOL, UNEP and CITES.
Lawson, K., Vines A. Global Impacts of the Illegal Wildlife Trade. The Costs of
Crime, Insecurity ... and Institutional Erosion. Chatham House,
February 2014.
A detailed study on the challenges faced and the outcomes if solutions
are not found to prevent the over exploitation of elephants, rhinos,
lions and other game species, the vast size of the industry and the
millions who rely on it to survive.
Oldfield, S. The Trade in Wildlife: Regulation for Conservation. 2003. COD
Library Database.
Book describing illegal wildlife trade on a global scale. This book
reveals all the facts and figures in regards to what and why a species is
being traded and the vast scale and number of specimens currently
circling in the market.
Africa at a Glance. Africa Geographic. Pg. 8,9. Vol. 21 No. 9. September
2013.
A glance at the illegal activities taking place on the African continent
which include vulture, elephant and rhino poaching in South Africa,
Kenya and Burkina Faso. Also included is the rate of deforestation in
the Congo River Basin and the arrest of Pepito, a notorious poaching
ring leader in the Congo.
CITES and IUCN bolster collaboration in tackling poaching and illegal wildlife
trade. International Union for the Conservation of
Nature. August 28, 2015.
http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?21814/CITES-and-IUCN-bolstercollaboration-in-tackling-poaching--and-illegal-wildlife-trade
Article providing information on the large scale of wildlife trade and the
policies in place to curb further destruction and providing information
on the agreement between CITES and IUCN.
Wildlife in Trade Programme: Cycads. Endangered Wildlife Trade.
Article which shows the loss of cycad species due to poaching in South
Africa which is home to 29 species found nowhere else in the world and
with a further 12 of those listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Plants are poached fro medicinal purposes and the demand from
private collectors who spend thousands of dollars on purchasing plants.
Glossary:

Nicholas Hamp-Adams
English 1101-112
Prof. Evans
Research Essay
April 17, 2016
CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora.
IUCN: International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
UNEP: The United Nations Environmental Programme.
EWT: Endangered Wildlife Trust.
INTERPOL: The International Criminal Police Organization.