This event is organised by the Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade. Registration is required.
On 11th-12th October 2018, the UK Government will host a major Heads of Government conference on tackling the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), the London 2018 IWT Conference. One of its central aims is to build coalitions between sectors, including researchers, private sector, NGOs, civil society (including the media) and governments.
To support this aim, five of the UK’s most active IWT research organisations are organising a novel event entitled ‘Evidence to Action: Research to Address the Illegal Wildlife Trade’ to be held at the Zoological Society of London, on the 9th October 2018. The event is jointly organised by Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade - University of Oxford, BIOSEC - University of Sheffield, Lancaster Environment Center - Lancaster University, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology - University of Kent, and the Institute of Zoology - Zoological Society of London.
The Evidence to Action programme will bring together researchers and end-users from across all sectors working on IWT, to find new ways of working together to tackle this complex topic. Research plays a central role in finding real-world solutions to the challenges posed by IWT, in ways that are evidence-based, and effective. It will cover the full range of areas in which research can support action, explicitly reaching across IWT stakeholder groups to learn from experience and build collaborations that can inform policy and action. We aim to be inclusive and seek a diversity of approaches and perspectives.
This event will be linked to the core aims of the London 2018 IWT Conference: (1) Tackling serious organised crime; (2) Building coalitions; (3) Closing markets for illegally traded wildlife. And will be structured around the UK government’s four strategic pillars: (1) Eradicating the market for illegal wildlife products; (2) Ensuring effective legal frameworks and deterrents; (3) Strengthening law enforcement; (4) Supporting sustainable livelihoods and economic development.
We are now calling for participants to register to attend the event. People engaged in IWT-related research or who are applying an evidence-based approach to address IWT are encouraged to attend. The event programme will include mini-workshops, interactive panel discussions and visual presentations.
Further information can be found on the event website, and please follow the instructions here to register: http://www.illegalwildlifetrade.net/iwt18event/registration/
Please email symposium@illegalwildlifetrade.net for more information and follow @IWTnet on Twitter for the latest news on the event and illegal wildlife trade research and action. Spread the news on social media using the hashtag #IWT18 and #Research4IWT.
See the event flyer here (PDF)