Vietnam grapples with ‘alarming popularity’ of online illegal wildlife trade – Mongabay.com
Vietnam grapples with ‘alarming popularity’ of online illegal wildlife trade Mongabay.com
sdgtalks
Illegal Wildlife Trade in Vietnam: A Report on Online Advertisements
A new investigation by wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC has uncovered an “alarming” slew of online adverts offering illegal wildlife products for sale in Vietnam, despite pledges from multiple platforms to clamp down on such content.
Overview
The report, based on monitoring of social media groups and e-commerce platforms in Vietnam between June 2021 and July 2023, focuses on items made from body parts of elephants, rhinos, pangolins, tigers, tortoises, and freshwater turtles.
Key Findings
- Researchers identified 22,497 online posts by sellers based in Vietnam that overtly advertised products related to these species, with elephant ivory and tiger products each accounting for more than one-third of the total adverts.
- The brazen availability of products from threatened and protected species confirms the “continued alarming popularity” for such products in Vietnam.
- Most of the listings were aimed at buyers looking for animal-based traditional medicines, exotic pets, wild meat, and jewelry and other decorative curios.
- The research team also found 23 of the 26 species of tortoise and freshwater turtles native to Vietnam advertised online, mainly as pets and for their meat.
Challenges and Recommendations
A major hurdle facing law enforcers is the relative anonymity of online transactions and the range of tactics sellers use to avoid detection algorithms. Another emerging challenge identified in the report is a new trend for wildlife-derived “glues” containing mixtures of threatened species.
The authors call on social media and e-commerce platforms to help curb the trade by improving their practices and collaborating closely with authorities to clamp down on illegal traders. They also urge traditional medicine traders and practitioners in Vietnam to report protected species products to authorities and remove them from their practices.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
The illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam directly undermines several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 15: Life on Land – The trade threatens biodiversity and the conservation of endangered species.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The trade promotes unsustainable consumption of wildlife products.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The trade involves illegal activities and hampers law enforcement efforts.
Conclusion
The persistence and rapidly evolving nature of the online illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam necessitate stronger measures to control the trade. Social media platforms and law enforcement agencies should formalize their cooperation to strengthen detection and investigation efforts. Additionally, raising awareness about the risks of engaging in the online wildlife trade and holding companies and government agencies accountable are crucial steps in curbing this illicit activity.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.
- SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- SDG 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of online posts advertising illegal wildlife products
- Number of social media platforms and e-commerce platforms cooperating with authorities to clamp down on illegal traders
- Number of prosecutions and penalties for trading CITES-listed species
- Number of reports of protected species products by traditional medicine traders and practitioners
- Number of measures implemented by social media platforms to moderate and remove illegal wildlife trade content
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products. | – Number of online posts advertising illegal wildlife products – Number of social media platforms and e-commerce platforms cooperating with authorities to clamp down on illegal traders |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Number of prosecutions and penalties for trading CITES-listed species – Number of reports of protected species products by traditional medicine traders and practitioners |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime. | – Number of measures implemented by social media platforms to moderate and remove illegal wildlife trade content |
Source: news.mongabay.com
