The impact of illegal wildlife trade非法野生动植物贸易危害.docx

The impact of illegal wildlife tradePopulations of species on earth declined by an average 40% between 1970 and 2000 - and the second-biggest direct threat to species survival, after habitat destruction, is wildlife trade.Perhaps the most obvious problem associated with wildlife trade is that it can cause overexploitation to the point where the survival of a species hangs in the balance. Historically, such overexploitation has caused extinctions or severely threatened species and, as human populations have expanded, demand for wildlife has only increased.Recent overexploitation of wildlife for trade has affected countless species. This has been well-publicized in the cases of tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and others, but many other species are affected.Extinction of SpeciesIllegal wildlife trade is often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species towards extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value. Vulnerable wild animals are pushed further to the edge of extinction when nature cant replenish their stocks to keep up with the rate of human consumption.For example, in some parts of Asia, rhino horn is considered to be a powerful traditional medicine, used to treat a variety of ailments. While there is little scientific evidence to support these claims, the dramatic rise in poaching to supply this demand is pushing rhinos toward the brink of extinction.Interruption of NatureOverexploitation of species affects the living planet in wider ways. Our complex web of life on earth depends on careful and thoughtful use of wildlife species and their habitats.For example, overfishing does not only affect individual fishing communities and threaten certain fish species, but causes imbalances in the whole marine system. Invasive SpeciesMany invasive species have been purposely introduced by wildlife traders or buyers，such as American Mink, Red-eared Terrapin and many plant species. These invasive species prey on or compete with native species and are a major threat to the balance of nature. For example pet Burmese pythons let loose by their owners are now considered a major pest in Floridas everglades.Incidental Killing of Non-Target SpeciesLike marine species killed through by-catch, incidental killing of animals also happens on land. For example, crude traps set for musk deer or duikers cause damage and death to a variety of animals besides those intended.Altering LivelihoodsIllegal trade negatively impacts a countrys natural resources and local communities that might otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable trade.Wildlife is vital to the lives of a high proportion of the worlds population, often the poorest, in the developing world. People depend directly on wildlife for consumption and as a way of earning cash. Some rural households depend on local wild animals for their meat protein and on local trees for fuel, and both wild animals and plants for natural cures. While many people in developed countries are cushioned from any effects caused by a reduced supply of a particular household item, many people in the developing world depend entirely on the continued availability of local wildlife resources. Other ProblemsWildlife crime is a big business. Much like illegal drugs and arms，illegal wildlife trade is run by criminal networks with wide, international reach. Recent evidence shows that some networks are also linked to terrorist organizations. The species traded are often already highly threatened and in danger of extinction, conditions under which wildlife is transport are often appalling, operators are unscrupulous and do not care how they damage the environment (for example they use cyanide to kill fish, or log in protected areas; illegal trade undermines nations efforts to manage their natural resources sustainably and causes massive economic losses in lost earnings. It is often said that illegal wildlife trade is the third most valuable illicit commerce behind drugs and arms. Particular problems are associated with illegal wildlife trade, which is usually driven by a demand for rare, protected species which need to be smuggled and/or by a desire to avoid paying duties. In illegal wildlife trade, some species involved are highly endangered, conditions of transport for live animals are likely to be worse and wildlife is more likely to have been obtained in an environmentally damaging way. The existence of illegal trade is also worrying because it undermines countries efforts to protect their natural resources.CasesEvery part of the tigerfrom whisker to tailis traded in illegal wildlife markets. Poaching is the most immediate threat to wild tigers. In relentless demand, their parts are used for traditional medicine, folk remedies and increasingly as status symbols among some Asian cultures.In Indochina and China, poaching is so pervasive that thousands of forest acres stand empty of tigers.The impact from the death of a single tiger at the hands of poachers reaches beyond one single loss. If a female tiger with cubs is killed, her cubs will