TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

"Watching the Trade in Wild Species"

The trade in wildlife and plants is a billion dollar industry.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia monitors the illegal part of that trade in endangered species in Asia.

Thousands of wild plants and animal species are plucked out of rainforests and seas to serve the appetite for rare animal pets, wild meat, souvenirs and timber.

Though hard to obtain the correct global value, the illegal wildlife trade runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The aim of TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

Working in close cooperation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), TRAFFIC seeks sustainable management of wild species and their habitats without damaging ecological attributes or national economies.

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TRAFFIC Southeast Asia: Partners in Conservation

The organization also partners together with WWF and IUCN to develop strategic plans to:

• Protect wild animal and plant species from endangerment by trade.
• Safeguard priority ecoregions from the negative effects of wildlife trade.
• Conserve valuable wildlife resources for human needs.
• Promote international agreements and policies that encourage sustainability in wildlife trade.

Active in the region since 1991, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia monitors trade from Myanmar to Indonesia. Southeast Asian countries, rich in biodiversity, both supply and consume wildlife products.

Rising affluence among Asian populations increases the demand for exotic animal products (e.g reptile skins and rhino horns) and wild meat from tigers to turtles served in restaurants.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia: How To Deal With Wildlife Trade

Early warning action: Obtaining market intelligence on emerging or newly discovered trade-related threats to wildlife helps to develop appropriate responses.

Flagship species: Flagship species represent the ambassadors or symbols for trade and conservation challenges. Some of the flagship species in Southeast Asia include elephants, tigers and other Asian big cats, rhinoceroses, orangutans and marine turtles.

Resource security: Important trade measures help improve the security of key wildlife resources, such as timber, marine fisheries, traditional Asian medicines, medicinal plants, wild meat and trophy hunting.

Wildlife trade hotspots: Concentrating action in priority wildlife trade centers brings about greatest benefit to reduce wildlife trade threats to endangered animals, natural resources and critical habitats.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia: How To Get Involved

Take a minute to watch this video. It's from Taiwan with subtitles in English, but the message is hard to miss.

Watch Out For Possible Illegal Souvenirs

• Sea turtles: jewelry, curios and sunglass products
• Elephants: ivory carvings, figurines, jewelry and tusks.
• Wild Cats: fur products from leopards, leopard cats and tigers.
• Birds: live pet animals and feathers.
• Corals and Shells: jewelry, clams and aquarium decorations.
• Reptiles: leather goods and lizard and snake pets.
• Wild Plants: some orchids, cycads and others.
• Traditional Medicines: products from rhino, tigers and black bears.

Contact

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia - Regional Office
Unit 9-3A, 3rd Floor, Jalan SS23/11
Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Malaysia

Tel: (603) 7880 3940
Fax: (603) 7882 0171
Email: tsea@po.jaring.my

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