In the third article in our series of perspectives on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and financial crime, produced in collaboration with the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, Gretta Fenner explores the role of asset recovery in combating wildlife trafficking.

She asks: Should assets recovered from corrupt practices linked to wildlife trafficking be channelled into conservation and counter-IWT enforcement efforts? What are the pros and cons, and have there been any examples of this type of strategy?

In this article, Juhani Grossmann, IWT Team Leader at the Basel Institute on Governance, explores the role of public-private partnerships in tackling illegal wildlife trade (IWT).

This is the second article in our short series of perspectives on IWT and financial crime, in collaboration with the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators. 

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is in the global spotlight thanks to its alleged role in triggering the coronavirus pandemic. It is sparking vivid debate among communities of experts not just in conservation, but in business, finance, technology, anti-corruption forces and law. 

Two of the Basel Institute's experts on intelligence and illegal wildlife trade (IWT) will present on how to put an end to wildlife crime as part of the University of Oklahoma's Global Risks & Threats Series.

Among other insights, Dr Timothy Wittig and Dr Patricia Raxter will explain how companies and financial institutions can work together to cut off access to the financial and logistical channels that the traffickers use. 

The Basel Institute's intelligence team, in partnership with the United for Wildlife Taskforces, has issued a predictive assessment of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on illegal wildlife trade activities and associated risks to transport and finance companies.