New e-learning course tackles illegal wildlife trade

Joint initiative covers key concepts and measures to help end illegal market worth an estimated $200 billion per year.

​The course is based on IMO's revised guidelines on illegal wildlife trafficking by ship, adopted in April 2024 by the Facilitation Committee.

How can government agencies and the maritime community contribute to combatting illegal wildlife trade? A new IMO e-learning course has been launched to support all stakeholders in the maritime supply chain to address wildlife trafficking by ship.

The e-course has been developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in collaboration with the World Maritime University (WMU) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Through animated e-lessons, quizzes and assignments, the self-paced virtual course covers the concepts of illegal wildlife trade, concealment methods, red flag indicators and the possible measures that each actor in the maritime supply chain can take to help stop this illegal trade.

The introductory e-learning course, comprised of five modules, is designed to enhance awareness of the magnitude and consequences of wildlife trafficking in maritime and offers a flexible, accessible, and effective training approach to all stakeholders within the global maritime supply chain. It is targeted at a broad audience and is available to the public, free of charge (from 31 October 2024).

The course is based on the IMO's Revised Guidelines for the Prevention and Suppression of the Smuggling of Wildlife on Ships Engaged in International Maritime Traffic.

Trade in wild animals and plants is a vast business that encompasses multiple industries, from food, furniture and fashion to healthcare, pets and zoos. The majority of the trade is legal and is governed by national and international instruments and national laws implementing those instruments. However, the growing demand for wildlife fuels a parallel illegal market valued at more than $200 billion per year. Wildlife trafficking is considered the fourth largest illegal trade, after trafficking in counterfeit products, drugs and humans and most of it uses maritime transport.

Hiroyuki Yamada, Director of the Maritime Safety Division at IMO said: "This new e-learning course is a valuable tool for both public administrations and the private sector, as it highlights the complexity and importance of maritime supply chains and their potential vulnerabilities to criminal networks. In addition to providing a vital overview of the relevant international conventions, it identifies practical measures to prevent, detect and report wildlife trafficking on ships. This will encourage collaboration and coordination at international, regional, national and port level, which is crucial to tackling the issue."

Tobai Sadayosi, CEO of WWF Japan, said: "Supporting international trade while addressing the global challenge of wildlife trafficking is a daunting challenge: it requires - and will continue to require - steadfast dedication, innovative approaches, and committed collaboration and cooperation at all levels of government and society. IMO's new e-course on IWT will amplify the maritime sector's contribution to meeting this challenge through knowledge-sharing, and expertly managing evolving and emerging risks in supply chains in support of law enforcement efforts. WWF will continue to be an active partner of the IMO and the World Maritime University in responding to global threats to biodiversity."

Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Chair of WWF Asia Pacific 25 (AP25), said: "Protecting wildlife requires global cooperation. Just as animals know no borders, neither should our efforts to conserve them. While significant strides have been made to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking, our work remains unfinished. The IMO eLearning Course serves as a powerful resource to build education and capacity on the ground, ultimately strengthening global collaboration and driving positive impact at scale. I encourage all stakeholders to harness this accessible resource to fortify our endeavors and safeguard global biodiversity."

Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, WMU President, said: "Illegal wildlife trade poses a severe threat to biodiversity and ecosystems and undermines sustainable development efforts worldwide. WMU is pleased to contribute to this invaluable e-learning course that provides maritime industry professionals with tools to address this pressing global issue. By working together to combat illegal wildlife trade, we can safeguard our planet's precious natural heritage and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come."

Illegal wildlife trade can harm countries' natural ecosystem through overexploitation and impact biodiversity in other countries through introduction of non-native species.

The e-course, "Illegal Wildlife Trade - Introduction to Counter Wildlife Trafficking in Maritime Supply Chains" module topics include international conventions and declarations on wildlife trade, common smuggled species and concealment methods, wildlife crime intelligence, port security and measures to prevent, detect and report wildlife trafficking on ships.

The course is the latest in a series of e-learning courses developed for the maritime sector by IMO, with various partners.

To register for the course, visit the course page on IMO's e-learning platform.