Ghost economy: The forbidden trade of the Himalayas

The Hindu Kush Himalayas, a region with diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity, faces widespread illegal wildlife crime. We reviewed available literature to gain insights into the scale and patterns of illegal wildlife crime in the HKH, hotspots, transit routes, consumers, and the significant causes of wildlife trafficking. Wildlife trade and seizure data for the eight HKH countries were accessed from the trade database of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wildlife Trade Portal of the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) for the period 2001–2020. The review findings showed that each year, millions of wild plants and animals, valued at $ 8–23 billion, were traded to meet the demand for wildlife, its parts, and products worldwide. In the illegal wildlife trade, about 24 % of terrestrial birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles originated from biologically diverse tropical regions, including the HKH mountains. The illegal wildlife trade in HKH covered a range of commodities, including live individuals, their parts, and their derivatives. The primary drivers of the illicit trade and commercial exploitation of rare and unique species from the wild were the ever-increasing demand for traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicines, folk remedies, weak law enforcement, the high price of wildlife and their parts, and mountain poverty. Efforts to combat wildlife poaching, trafficking, and trade in the region were hampered by weak wildlife law enforcement, insufficient institutional capacity and resources, and a lack of practical regional networks and other mechanisms for regional cooperation. Porous borders and high mountain passes, with harsh climates and physical conditions, further restrained the vigilance of law enforcement agencies. A lack of understanding of wildlife supply chains' social, economic, and ecological dimensions hindered informed policy and legislation. Lack of awareness among communities and other stakeholders about biodiversity conservation made them partners in the wildlife trade rather than custodians. The region needs to strengthen institutional capacities for effective legislation and action, and greater regional cooperation for intra-regional law enforcement to control the illegal trade of wildlife across borders and online. Scientific studies on the scale, trend, and patterns of illicit wildlife trade are crucial for understanding the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of unlawful wildlife supply chains in HKH. Mass awareness about biodiversity conservation values will help create responsible stewards among mountain communities.