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Illegal Wildlife Trade Special

People Not Poaching learning platform

Local communities have a key role to play in tackling the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) but they lack a voice in discussions and are rarely consulted when IWT policies are being developed. Consequently, policies and programmes may not reflect local communities’ priorities and views, and anti-poaching initiatives will be less effective because of it.

The People Not Poaching: the Communities and IWT Learning Platform, created in partnership with IUCN Sustainable Use & Livelihoods Specialist Group and TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network, will enable organisations and communities to share IWT successes and lessons.

The unique interactive website is being launched today at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London to foster learning and share experiences on community engagement in combating poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

Find out more and log on to the learning platform.

Statement from Andrew Norton

Governments and agencies need to work with local people for fight against illegal wildlife trade to be successful

Read the full statement from IIED director Andrew Norton ahead of the London Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference.

"Local communities have been sidelined from the decisions made about how to tackle the illegal wildlife trade for too long."

– Andrew Norton, IIED Director

Briefing, 4 pages

Local communities: the overlooked first line of defence for wildlife

The long-term survival of wildlife, and the success of efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in high-value commodities such as elephant ivory and rhino horn, depends to a large extent on the willing support of local communities living alongside it. But communities themselves are rarely consulted on what they think about IWT and how best to tackle it. The First Line of Defence (FLoD) initiative is an approach that directly engages with the communities that are targeted by IWT projects, seeking to understand and give voice to their perspectives.

Toolkit, 56 pages

Local communities: First Line of Defence against illegal wildlife trade (FLoD) Guidance for implementing the FLoD methodology

The FLoD methodology is designed to articulate, contrast and compare the assumptions, perceptions, and logic flows of communities and project designers that are engaging in projects to combat illegal wildlife trade (IWT). It is a multi-stakeholder action research approach designed for use by an independent team working with communities and local stakeholders.

The toolkit is available in English, French/français and Portuguese/Português.