Title
Wildlife crime: a review of the evidence on drivers and impacts in Uganda
Author(s)
Harrison, M.;Roe, D.;Baker, J.;Mwedde, G.;Travers, H.;Plumptre, A.;Rwetsiba, A.;Milner-Gulland, E.J.
Published
2015
Abstract
Wildlife crime, by which we mean any harm to (or intent to harm or subsequent trade of) non-domesticated wild animals, plants and fungi, in contravention of national and international laws and conventions, is an issue of considerable and growing international concern. This increase in awareness is partly due to the recent and rapid rise in illegal wildlife trade, and partly because of the increasing militarisation with which wildlife crime is carried out in some high profile areas. While poverty is often cited as a driver of wildlife crime, this is not necessarily true. Additionally, wildlife crime can have negative impacts on poor people, either because their natural resource base is being depleted, or through insecurity introduced by wildlife criminals. Responses to wildlife crime can also have disproportionate impacts on local people, who can be easy targets for law enforcement agencies. However, there is a dearth of evidence in the literature which would enable the relationships between poverty and wildlife crime to be empirically assessed.
Keywords
Wildlife crime;Illegal wildlife trade;Poverty alleviation;Uganda
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PUB15525