Resolving Uncertainties in the Legality of Wildlife Trade to Support Better Outcomes for Wildlife and People.

Wildlife use and trade support the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide but also threaten thousands of species. Legal instruments, when effectively designed and implemented, can help regulate trade and mitigate negative impacts. However, activities along supply chains are rarely categorically legal or illegal, with considerable uncertainties regarding legality in the wildlife trade. These uncertainties can compromise the success of efforts to ensure, or improve, sustainability, but are often overlooked. Here, we categorize legal uncertainties in wildlife trade into three dimensions: institutional, operational, and perceptual. We explore their implications for sustainable management and discuss potential interventions to address them, drawing on examples from wildlife management and other sectors. Resolving these uncertainties can reduce unsustainable and illegal trade, strengthen traceability and enforcement, and promote equitable benefit‐sharing among actors. Our findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to improve the clarity and effectiveness of wildlife trade management, advancing both conservation and socio‐economic objectives.

Project(s)

Priority 5: Enhanced Partnerships

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Leventis Foundation, Switzerland	via the Department of Biology, University of Oxford
Levine Family Foundation, United Kingdom
University of Oxford, United Kingdom	Africa-Oxford Initiative
Global Challenges Research Fund, United Kingdom	Trade, Development and the Environment Hub project (ES/S008160/1)
Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, United States
University College London, United Kingdom	Conference funding