Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Capacity-building
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Field activities
Policy influencing/advocacy
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
Capacity building
IFAW in partnership with several EU law enforcement agencies, WWF and others is working to improve enforcement of wildlife cybercrime through the EU-funded UNITE project. [OP2; OP4.b].
IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group carried out a joint conservation exercise in protected areas, with the Silviculture and Forest Biodiversity Conservation Division of the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM). They conducted relevant knowledge development and training for FDPM staffs on the diversity, ecological and conservation aspects related to the highly threatened orchids species in Peninsular Malaysia.
Convene stakeholders/Networking
In May 2021, (after the rafting of the Resolution but prior to its adoption), IFAW in partnership with WWF, INTERPOL, TRAFFIC, BE Customs and with financial support from the EU (ISF) convened a cross-sector workshop to explore trends, emerging issues, challenges and opportunities to strengthen policies to combat wildlife cybercrime. [OP1.a].
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Through IFAWs work on the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, over 11 billion user accounts have been targeted with messaging on wildlife cybercrime. [OP8]
IFAW, together with WWF and TRAFFIC, continues to support the growth of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, to better enable technology companies to tackle wildlife cybercrime. [OP8; OP4.d]
To further the IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Groups conservation ambitions and fulfil their role as a member of the IUCN SSC, we formed a partnership with the Silviculture and Forest Biodiversity Conservation Division of the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. This body is a national representative on the CITES Plant Committee, which works to highlight threatened species and ensure they are legally protected under the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313) or the International and Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), and also duly included in CITES Appendix I or II. Our partnership seeks to raise awareness and prevent extinction of near-threatened and threatened species.
The National Whistleblower Cente widely circulated the resolution highlighting the whistleblower provisions. It has been cited in numerous articles and papers we either written or been part of.
Policy influencing/advocacy
IFAW has participated in opportunities to strengthen relevant legislation for tackling wildlife cybercrime e.g: EU Digital Service Act, EU EnviCrime Directive, UK Ivory Act and new EU ivory rules in EU Wildlife Trade regulations, EU Strategy to Tackle Organised Crime. [OP4.a]
The National Whistleblower Cente continue efforts to promote at all levels the role that whistleblowers can play in combating online wildlife crime.
Scientific/technical activities
Since April, IFAW has been conducting research to review national legislation and best practices in EU Policies to combat wildlife cybercrime and best practices globally in the private sector, CSOs to address wildlife cybercrime. Results will be published in due course. [OP1.b]
In addition to the IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Groups collaborative field studies, they jointly designed and distributed four posters (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) highlighting 60 endangered orchid species, including several newly discovered ones.
Through support for the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, IFAW and partners have helped global technology companies (primarily in the US, SE Asia and Europe) improve and enforce policies on wildlife cybercrime. The coalition now includes 47 technology companies, including the biggest names in the world. To date over 11 million posts advertising wildlife or wildlife products have been blocked or removed, over 2,300 company staff trained in detecting illegal activity; and more than 11,000 suspect listings flagged with companies and enforcement agencies through dedicated cyber-spotter programs, which have lead directly to investigations and prosecutions by a number of governments authorities.
Thanks to policy influencing efforts, the new EU Digital Services Act explicitly references the illegal trade of animals in the definition of “illegal content” to be governed by the DSA. Measures under the DSA should help incentivise better enforcement of wildlife cybercrime by digital services providers in the EU.
The National Whistleblower Cente raised awareness and consideration of whistleblowers as a tool.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Groups: our effective strategy for working with local communities is underpinned by frequent visits to privately managed gardens, nurseries and conservatories to survey and monitor rescued plants. order of the Malaysian government, we made this possible through social media.
IFAW: Digital marketplaces continue to present a large challenge given their huge scale and relative anonymity. Despite improvements in many company policies and some government policies, regulation and enforcement efforts continue to lag behind the scale of effort required to address the problem. Similarly generating financial resources to tackle the problem at scale remains a challenge.
The National Whistleblower Cente report that the IUCN Secretariat and Commission capacity and again the lack of a clear IUCN lead on wildlife crime and on whistleblowers was a challenge to implementing this resolution.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
Convene stakeholders/Networking
At the forthcoming CoP19 of CITES, IFAW will co-host with Costa Rica a side-event: Creating a coordinated approach to combat wildlife crime linked to the internet – with speakers from law enforcement, CITES MA, NGOs/private sector.
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group will distribute posters at all domestic and international exits in Malaysia, e.g., airport. Also, we envisioned a book publication on Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Wild Orchids of Malaysia.
The National Whistleblower Cente will continue outreach on whistleblowers.
Other
IFAW will continue to support the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, to improve company policies, support enforcement efforts, an raise awareness with the public.
Policy influencing/advocacy
IFAW will continue to work with law makers in the EU to push for the adoption of an EU Code of Conduct on Wildlife Cybercrime under the new Digital Services Act.
The National Whistleblower Cente will continue to promote the role of whistleblowers and secure support to achieve this.
Scientific/technical activities
IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group will conduct a further assessment of Malaysian orchids' IUCN Red List Status, IUCN Green List Status, and CITES Appendix.
Are these actions planned for yet:
