Q3 impact of illegal wildlife trade on global species

Question 1

What impact does wildlife trade have on biodiversity?

Answer 1

International trade of wildlife has caused a dramatic decline of biodiversity (Cheng et al, 2017)

Question 2

What is wildlife trade associated with and what are two major impacts from wildlife trade?

Answer 2

Wildlife trade: involves the harvest, commercial exchange, and end use of wild organisms and
their derivatives is closely linked to the two identified direct causes of biodiversity loss; over-
exploitation and the spread of invasive species (Rolfes et al, 2019)

Question 3

What do people who trade do with animals and are multiple species involved?

Answer 3

Thousands of species across various taxa are harvested and traded by humans, alive or dead,
whole or in part , for a wide range of consumer purposes, ranging from subsistence to luxury
forms of use (Rolfes et al, 2019)

Question 4

What does CITES appendix 1 involve?

Answer 4

CITES Appendix 1- to penalize all contributing aspects of commercial trade in the species of
concern (Rolfes et al, 2019)

Question 5

What types of species are under CITES appendix 1?

Answer 5

CITES – Appendix 1- species threatened with extinction trade for commercial purposes is
prohibited and only permitted in exceptional circumstances (Challender, Harrop and
MacMillan, 2015)

Question 6

What types of species are involved under CITES appendix 2?

Answer 6

CITES- Appendix 2- Includes species that could be threatened with extinction from international
trade unless regulated (Challender, Harrop and MacMillan, 2015)

Question 7

What is CITES aim?

Answer 7

CITES aims to ensure that international trade in wildlife does not threaten the survival of species
in the wild (Booth et al, 2020)

Question 8

What is an example of a wildlife trade species?

Answer 8

Sharks and rays are amongst the worlds’ most threatened species. Large rays are particularly
vulnerable to trade- driven extinction due to their conservation life history characteristics and
high value body parts (Booth et al, 2020)

Question 9

What are two key drivers of species decline?

Answer 9

Escalating poaching is one of the key drivers of species decline along with habitat loss (Holt and
Roe, 2021)

Answer 11

Concern about rampant loss of biodiversity and widespread illegal trade in threatened species
has propelled this issue to the top of political and conservation agendas (Cheng et al, 2017)