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Background of illegal wildlife trafficking
The legal wildlife trade is estimated at $160 billion per year, and is considered the purchasing, selling, or exchanging of wildlife, wildlife products, or plants. Not far behind is the market of illegal wildlife trade at an estimated $10-$20 billion dollars per year. This market is the second largest illegal market in the world, falling behind the illegal traffic of drugs. Trafficking routes of wildlife are also used by criminals who smuggle drugs, firearms, and humans. This is well known by authorities on local and federal levels. Many wealthy people participate in the purchasing of illegal wildlife or wildlife products for pets, furniture, and other goods. This illegal trade has affected several species to a near-extinction level; some of those species are tigers, elephants, and rhinos. Overall there have been regulations and laws put in place to conserve the environment and the survival of many species. As we see the populations of animals declining we must realize part of the problem is the illegal trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products.

Creation
CAWT was initiated in 2005 by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and is a unique voluntary public-private coalition of likeminded governments and organizations. By joining the Coalition, a partner commits to address the growing threats to wildlife from illegal trade. CAWT partners work individually and with other partners of CAWT toward achieving the Coalition’s goals. CAWT currently has 6 governments that participate in achieving the goals of this organization. The 6 governments are:

Australia (Chair of CAWT): Australia is represented through the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Australia took over Chair of CAWT in 2012 from the united Kindgom. Australia takes illegal wildlife trade seriously, and has been known to prosecute many victims of illegal wildlife trade in past years. Last year Australia alone prosecuted close to 400 alleged violators of illegal wildlife trade.

Canada: Canada is represented through Environment Canada. The Canadian government has been a part of CAWT since 2007.

Chile: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides Chile's connection to CAWT.

India: The Government of India is represented by its Ministry of Environment and Forests, which also manages Project Tiger. http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/

United Kindom: The UK is represented through its Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The UK has previously held the title of Chair of CAWT when it took over that responsibility from the US Government in July of 2009.

United States of America: The US is represented through the Department of State and also by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works on the goals by providing enforcement of wildlife in the U.S. as well as working internationally.

Goals
CAWT has developed a set of goals that are set as guidelines to help prevent poaching and illegal wildlife trade. The goals, as listed on CAWT's website are:


 * To improve Wildlife Law Enforcement throughout the nation.
 * Many of the wildlife trafficking routes are the same routes as drug, firearms, and human trafficking routes.


 * To reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife.
 * The Coalition is working on this goal by educating people that they have many alternatives to these illegal wildlife products. Although many tribes use these products for medicinal uses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is extending its help to show the tribes that there are alternatives.


 * To inspire other governments to join their quest in stopping illegally traded wildlife.

There are currently 14 non–governmental organizations that participate in achieving the goals of CAWT. The NGOs that are well known and stand out by their actions are WWF, CITIES, and TRAFFIC. CITIES's main goal is to eliminate wildlife trafficking and to monitor the legal trade of wildlife to ensure countries follow the specific laws and regulations. WWF’s main goal is to conserve earth’s natural resources, and wildlife plays a big role in the planet's natural resources. TRAFFIC monitors trade of wildlife and plants between nations. They work to ensure that the conservation of our planet is not threatened by this trade.

Seizures
All seizures CAWT has been involved with can be found on this web page http://www.cawtglobal.org/seizures-news-archive/.

Governments
Australia

Canada

Chile

India

United Kingdom

United States of America

NGOs associated with CAWT
American Forest & Paper Association

Cheetah Conservation Fund

Conservation International

FREELAND http://freeland.org/eng/

Human Society International (HSI) http://www.hsi.org/

International Fund for Animal Welfare

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Save The Tiger Fund

Smithsonian Institution

TRAFFIC

Wild Aid http://www.wildaid.org/

Wildlife Alliance

Wildlife Conservation Society

World Wildlife Fund