1. Wildlife illicit trade and corruption Analysis of the linkages Media Workshop Quang Ninh Province (Viet Nam), 18/03/2010

2. Definition of corrupt behaviour
In the United Nations Convention Against Corruption
Bribery of national public officials, foreign public officials, officials of public international organizations
Embezzlement, misappropriation by public official
Abuse of functions and trading in influence
Illicit enrichment
Bribery in the private sector
Laundering of proceeds of crime

3. Definition of Wildlife Crime
Viet Nam Penal Code
People who hunt, kill, transport, keep, store, trade protected specie or transport and trade products of protected species
At local level
Consumers are not always aware that they are committing a crime (traditional medicine, religious believes, cultural traditions, etc.)

4. One definition of Wildlife Crime
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
processing,
possessing, obtaining,
and consumption
of wild flora and fauna in contravention of national or international law
Cooper, John E, et al, Wildlife crime scene investigation: techniques, tools and technology (2009) Endangered Species Research 1–9

5. One example of Wildlife Crime
In January 2009, more than 6,000 Kgs of elephant tusks were shipped from Tanzania to reach Malaysia.
From Malaysia the tusks were sent to Viet Nam where they were seized by custom officials at Hai Phong Port
Probably destined to China or Japan, via Singapore
Probably destined to hanko production

6. One definition of Wildlife Crime
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
processing,
possessing, obtaining,
and consumption
of wild flora and fauna in contravention of national or international law

7. Corruption opportunities
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
Forest rangers
Environmental police and specialized law enforcement
Management of parks and protected areas
Policy makers establishing quotas, permits, regulations, etc
National and foreign businesses holding hunting permits
Etc.

8. Corruption opportunities
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
Public officials (customs, revenues, specialized agencies, etc) in ports of entry/exit in Tanzania, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Singapore, China (or Japan)
Couriers
Shipping companies
Etc.

9. Corruption opportunities
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
processing,
Micro, small and medium enterprises
Law enforcement
Etc.

10. Corruption opportunities
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
processing,
possessing, obtaining,
Wholesale distributors
Retailers
Private collectors
Etc.

11. Corruption opportunities
Wildlife and forest crime includes the
taking,
trading (supplying, selling, trafficking), importing, exporting,
processing,
possessing, obtaining,
and consumption
Retailers
Private citizens (including high income citizens)
Law enforcement (including prosecution and judiciary in case of interdiction of any of the steps above)
Etc.

12. Why? Wildlife protection is a low priority for law enforcement
Risk of detection and punishment is low
Complexity of the specimen and existence of a legal trade
Low capacity and training for law enforcers
High demand, especially in Asia
Finite supply – controlled also by ad-hoc quotas/permits
High revenues
Price of raw ivory in Tanzania: USD 15 per Kg
Price of raw ivory in destination countries. USD 850 per Kg
Retail value of ivory hankos in Japan: USD 7,000 per Kg

13. Forms of corruption Bribery
Example: A border officer accepting a payment to turn a blind eye on a cargo of protected turtles with no CITES certificate
Fraud
Example: A border officer requesting a payment to expedite the licit movement of wildlife

14. Forms of corruption Favouritisms and cronyism
Example: Issuing wildlife export permits to companies owned by relatives of influential political individuals
Kickbacks
Example: Issuing wildlife export permits at higher costs to a private company in return for an illegal payment

15. Main players Legislative bodies (policy makers, politicians, etc.)
Lobbyists (private and public sector)
Administrative bodies (regulators for national and local authorities, monitoring authorities, management authorities for protected areas, etc.)
Law enforcement agencies (police, specialized agencies, etc.)
Border authorities (border police, customs, etc.)
Judiciary and prosecution
Private sector (shipping companies, retailers, wholesalers, etc.)
Individuals (poachers, couriers, buyers, witnesses, communities)
Media

16. Anti-corruption prevention measures
SITUATIONAL PREVENTION
Corruption prevention in the public sector
SOCIAL PREVENTION
Social prevention and public empowerment
Access to information
Public awareness raising and empowerment
Media training and investigative journalism
Joint government and civil society bodies
Public complaints mechanisms
Citizens’charters
Role of the Media

17. Critical issues in media-Government relationship
Governments’ contacts with the media need to be transparent and should not compromise autonomy of the media
Separation of the media ownership from Government or political fractions
Media should possess technical, legal, economic expertise to assess anti-corruption efforts
Media should make clear distinctions between fictional programmes, and news reports, and editorial commentary
Journalists, editors, newspapers owners can stimulate public debate to assess anti corruption policies
Self-regulation in investigative journalism to ensure professional and ethical standards

18. Role of the media to prevent corruption
Bring accurate and timely information about public issues to the people
Promote the participation of society into governance issues
Demonstrate credibility, integrity and capability to provide unbiased coverage of corruption cases
Preconditions:
The media are free and independent from political influence
Governments should not discriminate
Media should be able to monitor the integrity of the media
Codes of conduct within the media

19. Role of the media to prevent wildlife crime
Bring to the public accurate and timely information about the consequences of wildlife crime
Address the misbelieves and misconceptions of the demand side
Provide unbiased coverage of corruption cases, including offences by public officials, in cases of wildlife trade
Preconditions:
The media are free and independent from political influence
The media are trained to understand the consequences of wildlife crime

20. UNODC Regional Centre, Bangkok giovanni.broussard@unodc.org
Thank you
Giovanni Broussard
UNODC Regional Centre, Bangkok