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© 2022. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Overexploitation is a key driver of biodiversity loss but the relationship between the use and trade of species and conservation outcomes is not always straightforward. Accurately characterizing wildlife trade and understanding the impact it has on wildlife populations are therefore critical to evaluating the potential threat trade poses to species and informing local to international policy responses. However, a review of recent research that uses wildlife and trade‐related databases to investigate these topics highlights three relatively widespread issues: (1) mischaracterization of the threat that trade poses to certain species or groups, (2) misinterpretation of wildlife trade data (and illegal trade data in particular), resulting in the mischaracterization of trade, and (3) misrepresentation of international policy processes and instruments. This is concerning because these studies may unwittingly misinform policymaking to the detriment of conservation, for example by undermining positive outcomes for species and people along wildlife supply chains. Moreover, these issues demonstrate flaws in the peer‐review process. As wildlife trade articles published in peer‐reviewed journals can be highly influential, we propose ways for authors, journal editors, database managers, and policymakers to identify, understand, and avoid these issues as we all work towards more sustainable futures.

Details

Title
Mischaracterizing wildlife trade and its impacts may mislead policy processes
Author
Daniel W.S. Challender 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Brockington, Dan 2 ; Hinsley, Amy 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Hoffmann, Michael 3 ; Kolby, Jonathan E 4 ; Massé, Francis 5 ; Daniel J.D. Natusch 6 ; Thomasina E.E. Oldfield 7 ; Outhwaite, Willow 7 ; Michael ’t Sas‐Rolfes 8   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; E.J. Milner‐Gulland 1 

 Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK 
 Sheffield Institute for International Development, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK 
 Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK 
 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Canada; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 
 Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, UK 
 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 
 TRAFFIC, Cambridge, UK 
 School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK 
Section
POLICY PERSPECTIVES
Publication year
2022
Publication date
Jan/Feb 2022
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
1755263X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2629117166
Copyright
© 2022. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.