In 2014 it was stated that almost half of all wildlife populations had been eliminated in just forty years. Every year thousands of animals – lions, elephants, rhinos, turtles and other exotic species – disappear due to illegal activities such as trading, poaching and smuggling. According to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom, the illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest profitable industry in the world with multi-billion-dollar revenues. It has been estimated that if this trend continues, the world's animal population will decline by two-thirds by 2020. As a result, this prognosis threatens not only the most affected areas of Southeast Asia and Africa, but the entire wildlife ecosystem itself. Although animal rights activists, governmental and non-governmental organizations, international regulations and agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), have taken measures to protect animals that are at risk of extinction, there are still international structures needed to prevent this biodegradation and save the world. This essay focuses on the causes and effects of this problem and goes on to come up with some practical solutions to address this global crisis effectively. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The illegal wildlife trade has existed for many years and for many reasons. In the past, people hunted and fished to make a living, but today the situation is radically different. Poaching and killing of animals for jewelry, decorations, leather, fur, medicinal effects, superstitious beliefs or as a hobby are the most common reasons for these illicit activities. For example, people in Southeast Asia believe that tiger body parts and meat are imbued with magical abilities that make them stronger; in Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and areas of southwestern Russia, people hunt and hunt saiga antelopes en masse for their horn. Saiga horns are considered an indispensable ingredient in some Chinese remedies, and since there are no saigas in China, trafficking in their horn has become a very profitable export item. (Program, 2017). Furthermore, while in China and Vietnam it is believed that rhino horn can cure cancer and people are willing to pay 65,000 dollars per kilogram, in Europe millions of dollars are spent purchasing luxury accessories made from elephant and hippopotamus ivory (Henn , 2014). This phenomenon occurs especially in areas called “wildlife trade hotspots”, such as countries in Southeast Asia, East and South Africa, Eastern Europe, Indonesia, Mexico and many others (Fund , 2018). These territories are known for their rich biodiversity, where people hunted and consumed wildlife, which is ingrained in their cultures. Furthermore, a high level of poverty in rural areas makes local populations dependent on wildlife trade (Martyr, n.d.). It is one of the most profitable illegal industries, with an estimated annual turnover of between $10 and $20 billion (Earth, 2017). Every year 35,000-50,000 elephants are poached for ivory, more than 5,000 tigers are kept as pets, approximately 28,300 freshwater elephants, turtles are traded every day and, according to National Geographic, the last rhino white male rhinos died in 2018, leaving only two female rhinos alive (Good, 2014). Although the peoplemay be worried about the extinction of endangered animals and the loss of biodiversity, most of them underestimate the importance of natural imbalance in ecosystems. It is undeniable that the extinction of a species in the food chain has negative consequences for the entire environment (Dowd, 2018). According to research by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the ecological impact of illegal trafficking "results in long-term deterioration of ecosystem functions and services of both global and local importance" such as deforestation, desertification and the extinction of target species (Program, 2017). Another example of the negative consequences of the illegitimate wildlife trade is the spread of diseases. According to D.Smith (2006), approximately 8,000 people were infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China between 2003 and 2004, resulting in over 286 deaths. This devastating dilemma has raised awareness around the world, capturing the attention of governments and governments. organizations not only in affected areas of Africa and Asia, but around the world. As a result, international conservation organizations, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, academic and private sectors have come together to address this issue and establish effective law enforcement, sanctions and regulations. The most prominent example of this CITES-based international cooperation in 2017 is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between countries in which 183 representatives adopted approximately “400 resolutions and decisions at the recent 17th CITES meeting in Geneva, 2017.” However, these regulations and sanctions alone may be inadequate to address one of the most lucrative illicit markets in the world and have led to negative outcomes such as document falsification, national and local corruption, and smuggling. Furthermore, this method works on a “top-down” principle and most of the implications adopted by governments are usually not fully implemented, sufficiently sponsored or do not reach the initial plan (Program, 2017). and environmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wildlife Trade Monitoring Program (TRAFFIC), Flora & Fauna International (FFI) and others work on independent programs (Henn, These 8 Organizations Refuse to Let the Illegal Wildlife Trade Win, 2015 ). For example, according to Martyr (nd), the FFI supports “independent rangers and enforcement teams” who work closely with wildlife, while TRAFFIC explores, evaluates and monitors the progress of the wildlife trade and provides the necessary information to other NGOs, governments and independent organizations (TRAFFIC, 2018). These organizations should be supported financially by governments as they do not create and enforce sanctions and actions to protect the environment, but also work directly with wildlife by conducting expeditions and field trips where multiple efficient solutions are implemented. this illegal animal trade industry are human beings, they could be the rich who are the consumers or the disadvantaged people who are the traders, the basic fact is that both sides do not fully understand that everyone in this market selling and buying animals as animals household goods or jewelry lead to negative effects on the global environment (Preventing Poaching through Community Education, 2017). Therefore, governmental and non-governmental organizations such as TRAFFIC or CITES place particular emphasis on the education and awareness needs of the wider public. For example, the FFI, because it is an organization.