theimpactofillegalwildlifetrade非法野生动植物贸易危害.docxVIP

The impact of illegal wildlife tradePopulations of species on earth declined by an average 40% between 1970 and 2000 - and the second-biggest direct threat to species survival, after habitat destruction, is wildlife trade.Perhaps the most obvious problem associated with wildlife trade is that it can cause overexploitation to the point where the survival of a species hangs in the balance. Historically, such overexploitation has caused extinctions or severely threatened species and, as human populations have expanded, demand for wildlife has only increased.Recent overexploitation of wildlife for trade has affected countless species. This has been well-publicized in the cases of tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and others, but many other species are affected.Extinction of SpeciesIllegal wildlife trade is often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species towards extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value. Vulnerable wild animals are pushed further to the edge of extinction when nature can’t replenish their stocks to keep up with the rate of human consumption.For example, in some parts of Asia, rhino horn is considered to be a powerful traditional medicine, used to treat a variety of ailments. While there is little scientific evidence to support these claims, the dramatic rise in poaching to supply this demand is pushing rhinos toward the brink of extinction.Interruption of NatureOverexploitation of species affects the living planet in wider ways. Our complex web of life on earth depends on careful and thoughtful use of wildlife species and their habitats.For example, overfishing does not only affect individual fishing communities and threaten certain fish species, but causes imbalances in the whole marine system. Invasive SpeciesMany invasive species have been purposely introduced by wildlife traders or buyers，such as American Mink,