The National Strategy outlines the guiding principles and strategic  priorities for U.S. efforts to stem illegal trade in wildlife, and one of the top  three priorities identified is to “Reduce Demand for Illegally Traded  Wildlife.” Specifically, the National Strategy states that, as a strategic  priority, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife calls for raising public  awareness of the harms done by wildlife trafficking through outreach in  the United States and public diplomacy abroad. Illegal Wildlife Demand and Trade Are Diverse in the United States

U.S. trade in wildlife and wildlife products includes a variety of wildlife  such as live reptiles, birds, mammals, and elephant ivory, according to  law enforcement information, reports, and government and NGO officials. For  example, as part of their enforcement, both NOAA and FWS conduct  inspections of shipments at U.S. ports. During investigations, FWS has found wildlife  intended to be used as art or trophies. Illegal Wildlife Demand and Trade Are Diverse in China and Countries in Southeast Asia

Demand for illegally traded wildlife in China and countries in Southeast  Asia includes many wildlife species and end uses, according to reports  and government and NGO officials in the region. Training programs: State’s INL works to build law enforcement  capacity abroad by supporting various trainings and workshops. Disagreement on Roles and Responsibilities Hindered Some CWT Activities in Southeast Asia

Although agencies have worked together to combat wildlife trafficking,  disagreement on roles and responsibilities has hindered some CWT  activities in Southeast Asia, according to some officials. We found that agencies applied some collaboration mechanisms but also  have an opportunity to improve on agreeing on roles and responsibilities. The Implementation Plan designates various U.S. agencies to lead or  participate in achieving CWT strategic priorities, so it provides high-level  direction on agency roles. However, the Implementation Plan does not  define specific roles and responsibilities at the working level for mission  staff implementing programs and activities. Regarding U.S.-based partnerships, FWS monitored the U.S. Conclusions

Wildlife trafficking, worth at least an estimated $7 billion annually,  continues to push some protected and endangered animal species to the  brink of extinction. While agencies have applied  some practices that can enhance and sustain collaborative efforts, such  as establishing joint strategies and defining a common outcome, some  officials in Southeast Asia reported a level of disagreement on roles and  responsibilities, resulting in the delivery of inappropriate training activities  and in the hindering of U.S. efforts to cooperate with a foreign  government. (Recommendation 2)
The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development  should work with the Task Force to clarify roles and responsibilities of  mission staff engaged in collaborative efforts on combating wildlife  trafficking in Southeast Asia. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This report examines (1) what is known about the demand for illegal  wildlife and wildlife products in the United States and in Asia, (2) actions  agencies are taking to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products in the  United States and Asia, and (3) the extent to which the U.S. Fish and  Wildlife Service (FWS) within the Department of the Interior (DOI), the  U.S. Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International  Development (USAID) are assessing the effectiveness of their combating  wildlife trafficking (CWT) activities. To address our objectives, we analyzed agency documentation and met  with officials from DOI, State, USAID, the Department of Justice, and the  Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration, which have designated roles in the National Strategy for  Combating Wildlife Trafficking Implementation Plan to lead or participate  in efforts to reduce illegal wildlife demand; the Department of Homeland  Security, which has a role in enforcement and capacity-building efforts;  and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) that focus on combating  wildlife trafficking. We conducted fieldwork in Miami, Florida; China; Hong  Kong; Thailand; and Vietnam.
Why GAO Did This Study

Wildlife trafficking—illegal trade in wildlife—is estimated to be worth $7 billion to $23 billion annually and, according to State, continues to push some protected and endangered animal species to the brink of extinction. In 2013, President Obama issued an executive order that established an interagency Task Force charged with developing a strategy to guide U.S. efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
GAO was asked to review U.S. agencies' CWT efforts. GAO's September 2016 report on wildlife trafficking focused on supply side activities ( GAO-16-717 ). This report focuses on demand side activities and examines, among other things, (1) what is known about the demand for illegal wildlife and wildlife products in the United States and in Asia and (2) actions agencies are taking to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products in the United States and in Asia. GAO reviewed information from U.S. agencies and international and nongovernmental organizations and interviewed U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and Miami, Florida, and U.S. and foreign government officials in China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

What GAO Found

In the United States, China, and countries in Southeast Asia, there is diverse demand for illegally traded wildlife, according to data, reports, and various officials. The Department of the Interior's (Interior) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has seized a variety of wildlife at U.S. ports, such as coral for aquariums, conch meat for food, seahorses for medicinal purposes, and crocodile skin for fashion items. In China and Southeast Asian countries, reports and officials have identified seizures and consumption of illegally traded wildlife products such as rhino horn, elephant ivory, pangolins (shown below), turtles, and sharks, among others, used for purposes such as food, decoration, pets, or traditional medicine.
U.S. agencies are taking actions designed to reduce demand for illegal wildlife, including building law enforcement capacity and raising awareness, but disagreement on roles and responsibilities has hindered some combating wildlife trafficking (CWT) activities in Southeast Asia. FWS inspects shipments in the United States and facilitates law enforcement capacity building with partner nations overseas. The Department of State (State) conducts diplomatic efforts, some of which contributed to a joint announcement by China and the United States to implement restrictions on both countries' domestic ivory trade. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) works with local organizations abroad to support programs intended to reduce wildlife demand, strengthen regional cooperation, and increase law enforcement capacity. Several other agencies also contribute expertise or resources to support various demand reduction activities. Certain practices can enhance and sustain collaborative efforts, such as establishing joint strategies, defining a common outcome, and agreeing on roles and responsibilities. GAO found that agencies applied the first two practices but could improve with regard to agreement on roles and responsibilities in Southeast Asia. For example, although the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking Implementation Plan designates various Task Force agencies to lead or participate in achieving CWT strategic priorities, it does not define specific roles and responsibilities at the working level. Agencies have different views on roles and responsibilities in Southeast Asia. According to some officials, this disagreement resulted in inappropriate training activities and hindered U.S. cooperation with a host nation. More clearly defining roles and responsibilities would enhance agency collaboration.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that Interior, State, and USAID work to clarify roles and responsibilities for staff collaborating on combating wildlife trafficking efforts in Southeast Asia. Agencies agreed with GAO's recommendations.