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GAO-21-139R 1 (2021-10-02)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaebut0001 and id is 1 raw text is: G A O U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 October 2, 2020 The Honorable Rail M. Grijalva Chairman The Honorable Rob Bishop Republican Leader Committee on Natural Resources House of Representatives Combating Wildlife Trafficking: Agencies Work to Address Human Rights Abuse Allegations in Overseas Conservation Programs Wildlife trafficking-the poaching and illegal trade of wild animals-is a multibillion-dollar, global criminal activity that is both a conservation issue and a security threat, according to the Department of State (State). Estimates place wildlife trafficking among the leading types of illicit trade. According to a 2014 report from the United Nations Environment Programme, different sources have estimated the illegal trade in wildlife to be worth between $7 billion and $23 billion annually.1 Wildlife trafficking undermines conservation efforts, fuels corruption, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and ecotourism. Wildlife trafficking also is pushing some protected and endangered species to the brink of extinction. In response, the U.S. government has taken steps to combat wildlife trafficking across the globe. From fiscal years 2014 through 2020, the U.S. government provided approximately $554 million to undertake a range of activities to combat wildlife trafficking through federal agencies and in cooperation with partner organizations in the field. According to international and non-governmental organization (NGO) reports, an estimated 1,000 park rangers were killed in the line of duty worldwide from 2004 to 2014. On average, one ranger died every 4 days during that period.2 However, NGO and media reports, including a series of articles from BuzzFeed News, have recently alleged that organizations that received U.S. funding have supported park rangers who have themselves committed human rights violations while combatting wildlife trafficking, including sexual assault and extrajudicial killings.3 Among the victims of these alleged abuses are indigenous and other people living near protected wildlife areas in Africa and Asia. You asked us to review human rights protection mechanisms and monitoring, among other things, related to U.S. efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. Because of impacts to government operations related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including inability to travel, we were 1C. Nellemann et al., eds., The Environmental Crime Crisis-Threats to Sustainable Development from Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Wildlife and Forest Resources (Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme, 2014). See also GAO, Combating Wildlife Trafficking: Agencies Are Taking a Range of Actions, but the Task Force Lacks Performance Targets for Assessing Progress, GAO=1 6=717 (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 22, 2016). 2United Nations Environment Programme, The Environmental Crime Crisis, Our Story, The Thin Green Line Foundation, accessed July 13, 2016, at https://www.thingreenline.org.au/story/. See also GAO-16-717 3WVVF Funds Guards Who Have Tortured and Killed People, BuzzFeed News, March 4, 2019. The article does not specifically say that the rangers were in units that directly received U.S. funds. GAO-21-139R Wildlife Trafficking and Human Rights Page 1

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