The relationship between the illegal trade in wildlife and human security

Abstract

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the illegal trade in wildlife has significantly increased, making it one of the most profitable transnational organised crimes globally. Whilst this illicit activity has gained traction within the international security agenda, mainstream crimes such as terrorism and weapon/drug trafficking continuously overshadow this threat in terms of security prioritisations within the national security agenda of states. The objective of this study is to examine how the illegal trade in wildlife poses a direct threat to human security in order to emphasise the importance of prioritizing this illicit activity as a fundamental challenge to the security of the state and its individuals. Using a systematic research approach to conduct this study, the paper commences by introducing the key theoretical concepts used throughout the paper, followed by analysing the three central driving forces behind the illegal trade in wildlife. By examining these drivers, the study is able to demonstrate the influences behind the expansion of this illicit activity, highlight the interlinkages between the various domains and underline the consequential effects of the illegal wildlife trade on national, human, and environmental security. South Africa is subsequently used as a case study, to explain how a country’s economic, political, and environmental setting largely determines the presence of illegal wildlife syndicates. The last section of the paper summarises the central findings of the research, followed by providing a number of recommendations that can be used to address/prevent the challenges influencing this activity. The paper concludes by discussing how the objective of the study was achieved and suggests a way forward in terms of enhancing regional and global collaborations in order to combat the illegal trade in wildlife.