FIATA and TRAFFIC launch digital course to stop wildlife trafficking

October 8, 2019

FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, and TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, launched a new digital course ‘Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking’ during the FIATA World Congress 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Recognising that wildlife traffickers exploit the interconnected freight sector, the three-hour digital course provides freight forwarders with essential information to detect, respond to, and report instances of wildlife trafficking. The course is available, free of charge through the FIATA Logistics Academy, and was developed in partnership with TRAFFIC with support from USAID through the Wildlife Trafficking Response Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project.

At the launch event, TRAFFIC and FIATA also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts for freight forwarders to combat illegal wildlife trade.

“Freight forwarders have the ability to be game-changers in preventing the exploitation of their businesses by wildlife traffickers. Awareness and training are critical and our new digital course will make it easy for freight forwarders to become part of the solution,” said Issa Baluch, FIATA Logistics Academy.

“Wildlife trafficking is a global crisis that impacts the integrity of transport supply chains. We’re thrilled that this new course will empower freight forwarders around the world to easily and freely access critical information on the prevention of illegal wildlife trade,” said Monica Zavagli of TRAFFIC.

The illegal trade of wildlife is the fourth largest black market in the world and impacts more than 7,000 species of animals and plants. Wildlife trafficking pushes species towards extinction, robs countries of their natural resources, and impacts local revenues. These crimes fuel corruption and enrich criminal organisations too. The transportation sector is increasingly recognising the need to take action against wildlife trafficking. In 2017, FIATA included wildlife trafficking in the minimum standards for the FIATA Diploma in International Freight Forwarding.

The course has been launched in English, but will shortly become available in other languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and French.

To enroll , click here

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.