July 2017 Bar Bulletin
By Ashley Binetti
and Stephen M. Kohn
There is a strong global movement to halt and reduce wildlife trafficking to protect endangered populations from overexploitation and, ultimately, extinction. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)1 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),2 for example, are key international treaties that demonstrate the strong and ongoing international movement to protect and preserve iconic species.
The United States historically has contributed to these efforts; however, the scale and scope of wildlife trafficking are continuing to grow at an alarming rate, essentially reversing decades of conservation efforts.3 The...