Global wildlife trade

One estimate of worldwide commercial trade in wildlife, dating back to the mid- 1980s, excluding fisheries, timber and most plant products other than cacti and orchids, placed the fully declared customs value at US$5 billion and the ‘likely retail value’ at close to US$50 billion.          

35 thousand live primates, 52 thousand live parrots and 3.7 million animals' skins were traded during 2000 with legal permission by the signatory countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Illegal trafficking of wildlife

The ‘street value’ of the illegal wildlife trade, attributed incorrectly to Interpol, is US$5 billion.  This estimate however is not based on objective research and could well be higher. The extent and value of illegal wildlife trade are notoriously difficult to estimate.

Japan is a superpower as a consumer of wildlife

Japan is the second largest country trading wild species regulated by CITES and the biggest importer if dividing the number per capita. The total number of trading case in 2000 is 39,451, 10 thousand more than in 1999 (29,506). In 2000, Japan is the second largest importer of live primates, the third largest of live parrots and animal’s skin. Japan was the largest importer of live tortoises and wild orchids in 1997. Japan is obviously one of the most important centers of wildlife trade in the world.

Japan's policy on wildlife trade and CITES:

The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) of the Government of Japan says:

"Japan is striving for the effective implementation of CITES, based on the concept of sustainable use. Japan has also given support for capacity building of developing countries in this field."

Enforcement of CITES and related regulation in Japan:

According to the statistics of Japanese Customs, approx. 1,500 cases of imports have been blocked at the Customs as violation of CITES every year. In 2001, 1,658 cases including 74 cases of live animals and plants and 1,584 cases of products. This must be the tip of the iceberg.

According to the investigation conducted by JWCS in 2003, as many as 86.7% (189/218) of name seal stamp (the most major ivory products in Japan) retailers selling ivory stamp in Tokyo had not registered their businesses with the government. Another investigation carried out in Osaka in 2004 revealed that, as many as 91.4% (96/105) of retailers remained unregistered. Despite this extremely low level compliance as above, the relevant authorities have never bothered to exercise its authority to take punitive measures such as ordering business suspension or raising criminal charges against negligent dealers.

Position of JWCS:

JWCS believes that all the countries in the world shall take precautionary and sound policy to control wildlife trade whatever legal or illegal for protecting it, the natural ecosystem formed by them and human security (against outbreaks of the viruses and invasive species).

Japan is, however, one of the leaders with a policy promoting earning benefit from global wildlife trade as shown in the controversial issues ivory trade, whaling, tortoiseshell trade and etc.

Considering the influence of Japan as superpower of consuming wildlife and the quite insufficient enforcement efforts of it for regulating wildlife trade, the current policy of Japan may badly affect the international efforts to conserve global biodiversity.

JWCS would monitor the policy and enforcement of Japan, recommend and cooperate to it for further progress of global conservation.