TRAFFIC's mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

TRAFFIC's work is neither easier nor closer to completion than it was in the mid-1970s when TRAFFIC was founded largely to assist in the implementation of CITES. CITES now covers some 30 000 plant and animal species and has more than 150 member countries. These member countries face ever-more complex issues in determining how best to ensure that trade does not threaten the survival of species.

While continuing to support the application of CITES, TRAFFIC has developed its role in addressing wildlife trade issues in a wider context, including major commercial sectors such as fisheries and timber trade and a wide range of regional and local issues. Over a quarter of a century, TRAFFIC has developed from a single office into a global network of 22 offices in eight regional programmes around the world.

The trade in wild plants and animals and their derivatives is big business, estimated to be worth billions of dollars and involve hundreds of millions of plants and animals every year. Most of the trade is legal but a significant portion of it is not. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals for the food and pet markets to ornamental plants and timber. An array of wildlife products and derivatives, such as food, exotic leather goods, musical instruments and even medicines, can be found in markets around the globe.

earthdive is delighted to be working with TRAFFIC and is passing on any observations made by our members on the trade of endangered species throughout the world.

TRAFFIC works in co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.

TRAFFIC International, 219a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UnitedKingdom. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277427 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277237 Email: traffic@trafficint.org (visit the website: www.traffic.org