5 June 2015: International trade in wildlife can be sustainable and contribute to biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods if certain conditions are in place, according to a publication released by the International Trade Centre (ITC) on World Environment Day (WED). Also commemorating WED, ITC released a study on the perceptions of agri-exporters in Peru and Uganda on climate change.

‘The Trade in Wildlife: A Framework to Improve Biodiversity and Livelihood Outcomes’ analyzes the supply chain, property rights and policies of wildlife trade and highlights trade in crocodile skins and vicuna wool as examples of legal, sustainable trade that contribute to rural livelihoods. It underscores the importance of strong economic incentives in helping rural communities benefit from wildlife trade. ITC developed the study in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

According to the publication titled ‘Climate Change and the Agri-Food Trade: Perceptions of Exporters in Peru and Uganda,’ exporters in developing countries believe climate change is negatively impacting the agricultural sector. The report emphasizes that “climate change decreases exporters’ competitiveness and makes existing challenges in the agri-food sector more difficult to overcome,” according to ITC Executive Director Arancha González, who added that “climate change was of equal or greater importance to longstanding challenges such as price volatility, high operating costs and meeting product quality requirements.” The report aims to raise awareness about the challenges climate change poses for small- and medium-sized exporters in Uganda and Peru as well as on strategies to improve the effectiveness of adaptation support and mainstream climate resilience among exporters. [ITC Press Release 22 May] [ITC Press Release 5 June] [Publication: The Trade in Wildlife: A Framework to Improve Biodiversity and Livelihood Outcomes] [Publication: Climate Change and the Agri-Food Trade: Perceptions of Exporters in Peru and Uganda]