In 2014, it was stated that almost half of the wild population had been wiped out in just forty years. Every year, thousands of animals – lions, elephants, rhinos, turtles and other exotic species – disappear due to illegal activities such as trade, 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 profitable industry in the world, with revenues running into the billions. It is estimated that if this trend continues by 2020, the global animal population will decline by two-thirds. As a result, this prognosis threatens not only the most affected regions of Southeast Asia and Africa, but also the entire wildlife ecosystem itself. Although animal rights advocates, non-governmental and governmental organizations, international regulations and agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), have taken action to protect animals that are on the verge of extinction. extinction, international frameworks are still needed to prevent this biodegradation and save the world. This essay focuses on the causes and effects of this problem and continues to elaborate some practical solutions in order to effectively deal with this global crisis. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The illegal wildlife trade has existed for many years and for many reasons. In the past, people hunted and fished for a living, but the situation today is radically different. Poaching and killing of animals for jewelry, decorations, skin, fur, medicinal effects, superstitious beliefs or as a hobby are the most common reasons for these illicit activities. For example, the people of Southeast Asia believe that the body parts and meat of the tiger are imbued with magical abilities that make them stronger; In Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and southwestern regions of Russia, people massively hunt and poach saiga antelopes for their horn. Saiga horns are considered an essential ingredient in some Chinese medicines and, as there are no saigas in China, the trafficking of their horns has become a very lucrative export item. (Program, 2017). Furthermore, while in China and Vietnam it is believed that rhino horn can treat cancer and people are willing to pay $65,000 per kilo, in Europe people spend millions of dollars to buy luxury accessories made from elephant and hippopotamus ivory (Henn, 2014). This phenomenon mainly occurs in areas designated as "wildlife trade hotspots", such as countries in Southeast Asia, East and South Africa, Eastern Europe, from Indonesia, Mexico and many others (Fund, 2018). These territories are known for their rich biodiversity, where people hunted and consumed wildlife, rooted in their cultures. Additionally, the high level of poverty in rural areas makes local populations dependent on the wildlife trade (Martyr, nd). It is one of the most profitable illegal industries, with an estimated annual revenue of $10-20 billion (Earth, 2017). Every year, 35,000 to 50,000 elephants are poached for ivory, more than 5,000 tigers are kept as pets, about 28,300 freshwater animals are captured. turtles are the subject of daily trade and,according to National Geographic, the last male white rhino died in 2018, leaving only two female rhinos remaining (Good, 2014). Although people may worry about the extinction of endangered animals and the loss of biodiversity, most people underestimate the importance of natural imbalance in ecosystems. It is undeniable that the extinction of a species in the food chain has harmful consequences for the entire environment (Dowd, 2018). According to a study by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the ecological impact of illegal trafficking "leads to long-term deterioration of ecosystem functions and services of both global and local importance" such as deforestation, desertification and extinction of target species (Program, 2017). Another example of the negative consequences of illegitimate wildlife trade is the spread of disease. According to D. Smith (2006), approximately 8,000 people were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China between 2003 and 2004, with more than 286 deaths. This devastating dilemma has raised awareness around the world, attracting the attention of governments and governments. organizations not only in the affected regions of Africa and Asia, but around the world. Therefore, international conservation organizations, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, academia and private sectors have come together to address this problem and establish effective enforcement of laws, sanctions and regulations. The most striking example of this international cooperation, based on CITES, 2017, is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between countries where 183 representatives have adopted approximately "400 resolutions and decisions at the recent 17th CITES meeting in Geneva, 2017." However, these regulations and sanctions alone may prove insufficient to deal with one of the most profitable illegal markets in the world and led to negative consequences such as falsification of documents, corruption at the national and local levels and smuggling. Additionally, this method works “top down,” and most of the implications adopted by governments are usually not fully realized, sufficiently funded, or fail to achieve the original plan (Program, 2017). Meanwhile, private non-governmental organizations and conservation organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the 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 "rangers and independent enforcement teams" who work closely with wildlife, while TRAFFIC explores, assesses and monitors the progression of the wildlife trade and provides necessary information to other NGOs, governments and independent organizations (TRAFFIC, 2018). These organizations should be financially supported by governments because they do not create and impose sanctions and actions to protect the environment, but also work directly with wildlife, flora and fauna by leading expeditions and trips on the ground where multiple effective solutions are implemented. this illegal animal trade industry are human beings, it can either be rich people who are the consumers or underprivileged people who are the dealers, the basic fact is that both sides do not understand..