Wildlife trafficking is a global phenomenon posing many negative impacts on socio-environmental systems.Scientific exploration of wildlife trafficking trends and the impact of interventions is significantly encumbered...Wildlife trafficking is a global phenomenon posing many negative impacts on socio-environmental systems.Scientific exploration of wildlife trafficking trends and the impact of interventions is significantly encumbered by a suite of data reuse challenges.We describe a novel,open-access data directory on wildlife trafficking and a corresponding visualization tool that can be used to identify data for multiple purposes,such as exploring wildlife trafficking hotspots and convergence points with other crime,discovering key drivers or deterrents of wildlife trafficking,and uncovering structural patterns.Keyword searches,expert elicitation,and peer-reviewed publications were used to search for extant sources used by industry and non-profit organizations,as well as those leveraged to publish academic research articles.The open-access data directory is designed to be a living document and searchable according to multiple measures.The directory can be instrumental in the data-driven analysis of unsustainable illegal wildlife trade,supply chain structure via link prediction models,the value of demand and supply reduction initiatives via multi-item knapsack problems,or trafficking behavior and transportation choices via network interdiction problems.展开更多
Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape is prominent for its potential wildlife resources, which play a key role in sustaining the economy and livelihoods of the people. However, most of these resources are illegally obtained and...Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape is prominent for its potential wildlife resources, which play a key role in sustaining the economy and livelihoods of the people. However, most of these resources are illegally obtained and traded in different places within and outside the Ruaha landscape. Due to its illegal nature, most of the important information regarding the trade is poorly documented. Therefore, the current study aimed first, to explore the origin and destination of wildlife products;second, to assess the relationship between hunters and buyers or customers;third, to assess the means used to transport wildlife products;and lastly, to assess who influences people to engage in illegal hunting and trade activities. In addition, we assess the materials used in the exchange of wildlife products. Semi-structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect information from 123 respondents. Social network analysis was used to indicate the origin and destination of wildlife products. The findings show that 70% of wildlife products originate from the Ruaha National Park and MBOMIPA wildlife management areas, with the remaining 30% originating from villages. The majority of respondents (65%) reported transporting wildlife products by foot and bicycle as the primary modes of transportation. Suppliers of wildlife products are reported to have close and long-term relationships with their customers and traders, with most of whom being friends and relatives. We found most poachers to be influenced by their friends and relatives in terms making decision to engage in illegal wildlife trade. In addition, crops like maize and rice were the most popular products used to exchange with wildlife products in the Ruaha landscape. Therefore, in order to combat illegal trade in wildlife products at the local level, alternative income-generating activities need to be promoted accompanied by not only well-funded anti-poaching programmes but also more effective surveillance plans. These should entail the use of advanced te展开更多
基金the National Science Foundation[CMMI-1935451]and National Science Foundation[ISS-2039951]。
文摘Wildlife trafficking is a global phenomenon posing many negative impacts on socio-environmental systems.Scientific exploration of wildlife trafficking trends and the impact of interventions is significantly encumbered by a suite of data reuse challenges.We describe a novel,open-access data directory on wildlife trafficking and a corresponding visualization tool that can be used to identify data for multiple purposes,such as exploring wildlife trafficking hotspots and convergence points with other crime,discovering key drivers or deterrents of wildlife trafficking,and uncovering structural patterns.Keyword searches,expert elicitation,and peer-reviewed publications were used to search for extant sources used by industry and non-profit organizations,as well as those leveraged to publish academic research articles.The open-access data directory is designed to be a living document and searchable according to multiple measures.The directory can be instrumental in the data-driven analysis of unsustainable illegal wildlife trade,supply chain structure via link prediction models,the value of demand and supply reduction initiatives via multi-item knapsack problems,or trafficking behavior and transportation choices via network interdiction problems.
文摘Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape is prominent for its potential wildlife resources, which play a key role in sustaining the economy and livelihoods of the people. However, most of these resources are illegally obtained and traded in different places within and outside the Ruaha landscape. Due to its illegal nature, most of the important information regarding the trade is poorly documented. Therefore, the current study aimed first, to explore the origin and destination of wildlife products;second, to assess the relationship between hunters and buyers or customers;third, to assess the means used to transport wildlife products;and lastly, to assess who influences people to engage in illegal hunting and trade activities. In addition, we assess the materials used in the exchange of wildlife products. Semi-structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect information from 123 respondents. Social network analysis was used to indicate the origin and destination of wildlife products. The findings show that 70% of wildlife products originate from the Ruaha National Park and MBOMIPA wildlife management areas, with the remaining 30% originating from villages. The majority of respondents (65%) reported transporting wildlife products by foot and bicycle as the primary modes of transportation. Suppliers of wildlife products are reported to have close and long-term relationships with their customers and traders, with most of whom being friends and relatives. We found most poachers to be influenced by their friends and relatives in terms making decision to engage in illegal wildlife trade. In addition, crops like maize and rice were the most popular products used to exchange with wildlife products in the Ruaha landscape. Therefore, in order to combat illegal trade in wildlife products at the local level, alternative income-generating activities need to be promoted accompanied by not only well-funded anti-poaching programmes but also more effective surveillance plans. These should entail the use of advanced te
