Funding boost for nature through sustainable and legal wildlife trade
As global leaders come together at the UN biodiversity summit in Colombia, TRAFFIC is delighted to announce a new £4.17m grant from Arcadia to support dual goals of combatting illegal wildlife trade, and building sustainable, legal and safe trade in wild species, to benefit people and planet.
This core funding, starting in 2024 and running to 2028, will enable TRAFFIC to undertake critical work supporting governments, businesses and communities to scale up action towards sustainable, legal and safe trade in wild species.
Photo by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
Richard Scobey, TRAFFIC Executive Director, said: “At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, this funding will help TRAFFIC accelerate impact and deliver stronger evidence, solutions and influence to not only tackle illegal and unsustainable trade, but also ensure that communities can engage in legal and sustainable trade to positively increase social, economic and environmental benefits.”
Simon Chaplin, CEO of Arcadia, said: “Wildlife loss and environmental destruction threaten all life. TRAFFIC is playing a critical role to develop, monitor and enforce laws and policies that ensure nature can thrive."
Arcadia is delighted to support its work to strengthen governance in places where we can achieve lasting change and impact the areas where biodiversity is highest and most at risk."
Simon Chaplin, CEO of Arcadia
Arcadia also partners with TRAFFIC on the project Reducing Trade Threats to Africa’s wild species and ecosystems (ReTTA). This work includes combatting the illegal wildlife trade through tools to assist identification of illegal species, and providing open access to essential data used by law enforcement and research teams worldwide.
Taye Teferi, Senior Regional Director for Africa, said: “Thanks to the Arcadia project funding, TRAFFIC has been able to identify, understand and anticipate wildlife trade trends that could push African species over the edge.”
About Arcadia
Arcadia helps people to conserve and restore nature, record cultural heritage, and promote open access to knowledge. Since 2002 Arcadia has awarded more than $1.2 billion to organizations around the world.
