According to the U.S. 1). Specifically, it  reported that the current rate of decline is unsustainable and puts the  African elephant at risk of extinction. Task Force, Strategy, and Other CWT Efforts

In 2013, President Obama issued an executive order that established the  Task Force and charged it with developing a strategy to guide U.S. efforts  on CWT. Transnational Organized Criminals Drive Wildlife Trafficking, Contributing to Violence and Instability

		Transnational Organized Criminals and Networks Drive Wildlife Trafficking

While criminal elements of all kinds, including some terrorist entities and  rogue security personnel, are involved in poaching and transporting ivory  and rhino horn across Africa, transnational organized criminals and  networks are the driving force behind wildlife trafficking, according to  reports we reviewed and agency officials we spoke with in the United  States and Africa. U.S. Task Force Agencies Are Taking a Range of Actions to Combat Wildlife Trafficking

The Task Force is co-chaired by DOI, DOJ, and State, and the  Implementation Plan designates approximately 16 agencies,  departments, or offices to play a role in taking action to combat wildlife  trafficking. FWS Provides Law Enforcement Assistance and Supports Species Conservation Efforts

Through grants and other means, FWS provides law enforcement  assistance and supports conservation efforts that contribute to addressing  wildlife trafficking. USAID Works to Build Community and National- Level Enforcement Capacity to Conserve Wildlife

USAID combats wildlife trafficking by working with communities to help  them conserve wildlife, particularly in Africa. CWT Task Force Lacks Performance Targets, Making Effectiveness Difficult to Determine

While the interagency Task Force, co-chaired by State, DOI, and DOJ,  provides some information about progress, it lacks performance targets,  making effectiveness difficult to determine at the strategic level. As we have previously reported, a fundamental element in an  organization’s efforts to manage for results is its ability to set performance  goals with specific targets and time frames that reflect strategic goals and  to measure progress toward its performance goals as part of its strategic  planning efforts. In addition, Task Force agencies have provided performance targets for  efforts facing similar challenges to measuring and reporting results. In addition, a  separate presidential task force, responsible for addressing species  conservation of pollinators, identified a target that encompasses, among  other things, international partners, long time periods, and factors outside  the control of the U.S. government. Conclusions

Wildlife trafficking, worth at least $7 billion annually, continues to push  some protected and endangered animal species to the brink of extinction. Furthermore, wildlife trafficking can fuel corruption and criminal activity,  leads to loss of both human and animal lives, and destabilizes  communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and ecotourism  revenue. Without such targets, it is unclear whether the Task Force’s  accomplishments are meeting expectations, making it difficult to gauge  progress and to ensure effective stewardship of public resources. Recommendation for Executive Action

To provide a basis for comparing actual results with intended results that  can generate more meaningful performance information, we recommend  that the Secretaries of the Interior and State and the Attorney General of  the United States should jointly work with the Task Force to develop  performance targets related to the National Strategy for Combating  Wildlife Trafficking Implementation Plan. The Departments of the Interior, Justice, and  State, and USAID agreed with our recommendation. The report examines  (1) what is known about the security implications of wildlife trafficking and  its consequences; (2) actions Task Force agencies are taking to combat  wildlife trafficking; (3) Department of State (State) and U.S. Agency for  International Development (USAID) monitoring and evaluation efforts in  select countries; and (4) the extent to which the Task Force assesses its  progress. To address our objectives, we met with Task Force agency officials and  nongovernmental wildlife trafficking experts recommended by agency  officials and other nongovernmental wildlife trafficking experts in  Washington, D.C., and conducted fieldwork in Kenya, South Africa, and  Tanzania.
Why GAO Did This Study

Illegal trade in wildlife—wildlife trafficking—continues to push some protected and endangered animal species to the brink of extinction, according to the Department of State. Wildlife trafficking undermines conservation efforts, can fuel corruption, and destabilizes local communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and ecotourism revenues. This trade is estimated to be worth $7 billion to $23 billion annually. In 2013, President Obama issued an executive order that established the interagency Task Force charged with developing a strategy to guide U.S. efforts on this issue.
GAO was asked to review U.S. government efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. This report focuses on wildlife trafficking in Africa, particularly of large animals, and examines, among other things, (1) what is known about the security implications of wildlife trafficking and its consequences, (2) actions Task Force agencies are taking to combat wildlife trafficking, and (3) the extent to which the Task Force assesses its progress. GAO analyzed agency documents and met with U.S. and host country officials in Washington, D.C.; Kenya; South Africa; and Tanzania.

What GAO Found

While criminal elements of all kinds, including some terrorist entities and rogue security personnel, engage in poaching and transporting ivory and rhino horn across Africa, transnational organized criminals are the driving force behind wildlife trafficking, according to reports GAO reviewed and agency officials GAO spoke with in the United States and Africa. Wildlife trafficking can contribute to instability and violence and harm people as well as animals. According to reports, about 1,000 rangers were killed from 2004 to 2014. Wildlife trafficking in Africa particularly affects large animals, with populations of elephants and rhinos diminishing at a rate that puts them at risk of extinction.
Agencies of the interagency Task Force leading U.S. efforts to combat wildlife trafficking are taking a range of conservation and capacity-building actions. The Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, for example, provides law enforcement assistance and supports global conservation efforts. The Department of State contributes to law enforcement capacity building and diplomatic efforts, while the Department of Justice prosecutes criminals and conducts legal training to improve partner-country capacity. Further, the U.S. Agency for International Development works to build community and national- level enforcement capacity and supports various approaches to combat wildlife trafficking. Several other agencies also contribute expertise or resources to support various activities outlined in the Task Force's National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking Implementation Plan .
The Task Force provides some information about progress, but it lacks performance targets, making effectiveness difficult to determine at the strategic level. A fundamental element in an organization's efforts to manage for results is its ability to set specific targets that reflect strategic goals. Task Force officials identified a range of reasons why they do not have targets, including dependence on global partners, the long time periods needed to document results, and limited data availability. However, Task Force agencies have provided performance targets for other efforts that face similar challenges. Without targets, it is unclear whether the Task Force's performance is meeting expectations, making it difficult to gauge progress and to ensure that resources are being utilized most effectively in their efforts against wildlife trafficking.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that the Secretaries of State and the Interior and the Attorney General of the United States, as co-chairs, jointly work with the Task Force to develop performance targets related to the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking Implementation Plan . Agencies agreed with GAO's recommendation.