TRAFFIC and FIATA Launch Digital Course for Freight Forwarders to Prevent Wildlife Trafficking
During the launch event at the FIATA World Congress, TRAFFIC and FIATA signed an MoU to continue joint efforts combatting illegal wildlife trade
Cape Town, South Africa, 4th October 2019—FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, and TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, launched a new digital course “Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking” during the FIATA World Congress 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa today.
Recognising that wildlife traffickers exploit the interconnected freight sector, the three-hour digital course provides freight forwarders with essential information to detect, respond to, and report instances of wildlife trafficking. The course is available, free of charge through the FIATA Logistics Academy and was developed in partnership with TRAFFIC with support from USAID through the Wildlife Trafficking Response Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project.
At the launch event, TRAFFIC and FIATA also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts for freight forwarders to combat illegal wildlife trade.
“Freight forwarders have the ability to be game-changers in preventing the exploitation of their businesses by wildlife traffickers. Awareness and training are critical and our new digital course will make it easy for freight forwarders to become part of the solution,” said Issa Baluch, Chairperson FIATA Logistics Academy,
"Wildlife trafficking is a global crisis that impacts the integrity of transport supply chains. We’re thrilled that this new course will empower freight forwarders around the world to easily and freely access critical information on the prevention of illegal wildlife trade," said Monica Zavagli, TRAFFIC Senior Programme Officer.
The illegal trade of wildlife is the fourth largest black market in the world and impacts more than 7,000 species of animals and plants. Wildlife trafficking pushes species towards extinction, robs countries of their natural resources, and impacts local revenues. These crimes fuel corruption and enrich criminal organisations too.
The transportation sector is increasingly recognising the need to take action against wildlife trafficking. In 2017, FIATA included wildlife trafficking in the minimum standards for the FIATA Diploma in International Freight Forwarding.
TRAFFIC was available throughout the FIATA World Congress 2019 at their exhibition booth to answer questions about the new FIATA/TRAFFIC course and how freight forwarders can help to stop wildlife trafficking. The course has been launched in English, but will shortly become available in other languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and French.
About USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for the majority of overseas development assistance from the United States Government and works to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing security and prosperity for America and the world. www.usaid.gov/
About Wildlife TRAPS
The Wildlife TRAPS Project, implemented by TRAFFIC and IUCN with funding support from USAID, is helping to forge cross-sectoral partnerships with government and experts in inter-governmental organisations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to identify risk mitigation strategies to prevent future zoonotic spillover potential associated with trade in wild animals.
As well as social and behavioural change interventions, the Wildlife TRAPS project is supporting policy and regulatory reform efforts, including strengthening supply chain management systems. The identification of critical control points within wildlife trade supply chains will help target illicit and other high-risk wildlife trade practices that may facilitate the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
About FIATA
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a nongovernmental, membership-based organization representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. FIATA’s membership is composed of 108 Associations Members and more than 5,800 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics’ www.fiata.com.
