Enhancing wildlife trade monitoring in the European Union - No need to reinvent the wheel

Enhancing wildlife trade monitoring in the European Union - No need to reinvent the wheel | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 18 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Enhancing wildlife trade monitoring in the European Union - No need to reinvent the wheel Authors : Monica V. Biondo 0000-0001-6840-7403 [email protected] and Ricardo Calado Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175024297.72956623/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 283 views 212 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Biodiversity loss is driven by factors like overexploitation and agriculture, with global wildlife trade significantly contributing to natural resource depletion and species extinction. The trade - including live animals, plants, fungi, and derived products – is a major economic sector valued at US$145-220 billion annually. The European Union (EU) is a key market, importing wildlife products worth approximately €100 billion. While legal trade has surged, illegal wildlife trade remains a significant transnational crime, estimated at US$20 billion annually and threatening endangered species. Monitoring wildlife trade is challenged by species-level data gaps and inadequate regulation of many traded species, hindering conservation efforts and increasing biosecurity risks, including the transmission of zoonotic diseases. Global databases, like the United Nations Comtrade, provide insufficient species-specific details, limiting regulatory effectiveness. The EU’s database Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) offers a powerful, underutilized tool for wildlife trade monitoring. Originally designed for biosecurity, TRACES enables real-time tracking of wildlife imports across 90+ countries in 39 languages. It facilitates detailed data collection, cross-border information sharing, accurate species identification, automated processing, and enhanced risk assessment. However, studies indicate that significant gaps in species identification persist, which could be mitigated through stricter enforcement and data verification. Rather than developing other IT systems, the EU should strengthen TRACES enforcement to improve legal trade regulation, combat illegal activities, and enhance biodiversity conservation. Leveraging TRACES would reinforce the EU’s leadership in sustainable wildlife trade regulation, protecting endangered species while promoting ecological integrity. Supplementary Material File (2025_06_16_biondo_calado_viewpoint_traces_wildlife_monitoring.docx) Download 1.22 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 18 June 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 28 Aug 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords description ecosystem freshwater marine multiple none of the above terrestrial Authors Affiliations Monica V. Biondo 0000-0001-6840-7403 [email protected] Fondation Franz Weber View all articles by this author Ricardo Calado University of Aveiro View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 283 views 212 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Monica V. Biondo, Ricardo Calado. Enhancing wildlife trade monitoring in the European Union - No need to reinvent the wheel. Authorea . 18 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175024297.72956623/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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