Poaching American Security: Impacts of Illegal Wildlife Trade
Washington, DC, Mar 5, 2008 - The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on March 5 to investigate the impact of illegal trade in wildlife on international security and stability. The hearing is the result of months of consultation among the U.S. State Department, Interpol, CITES, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and leading conservation organizations.

Illegal Wildlife Trafficking (Podcast)
Washington, DC, Dec 21, 2007 - EXCERPT:  There are two parts to the illegal wildlife trade. One part is played by organized crime and their suppliers in the countries where wildlife is collected.  [Assistant Secretary of State Claudia] McMurray tells us about the other part of the problem.

“We also have a tremendous problem with demand.  There are two big markets for these products in the world.  The first is China – traditional Chinese medicine, tiger bone, rhino horn, lots of other things as well -- shark fins.  But the U.S. is number two, and we bring in an awful lot of pets, mostly.  Reptiles - turtles, snakes - rare birds from the Amazon, from other places. So we have a different sort of problem.”

Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking Event With Bo Derek
Washington, DC, Oct 9, 2007 - Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science Claudia McMurray and Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Trafficking Issues Bo Derek will conduct a series of outreach events to raise public awareness about the illegal global trade in wildlife during a two day visit to Miami and southern Florida, October 10-11, 2007.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS EVENT:

Bo Derek visits South Florida to save endangered wildlife
WSVN Channel 7, Miami (VIDEO)

Bo Derek Wants Animal Trafficking To Stop
CBS4, Miami (VIDEO)

1980s Sex Icon Defends Wildlife In Miami
NBC News Channel 6, Miami (VIDEO)

Bo Derek in town
Miami Herald

Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment, and Science Hosts Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking Side Event at 14th CITES Conference of the Parties
Washington, DC, June 5, 2007 - Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment, and Science Claudia A. McMurray will lead an international discussion on partnerships to improve wildlife law enforcement at the regional and international level, including the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking, at the annual conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) on June 5, 2007, in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Countering Multi-Billion dollar Illegal Wildlife Trade Focus of Government-Backed Global Coalition
Nairobi, 10 February 2007 -- A new global initiative to fight the US$10 billion illegal trade in wildlife was launched today on the international stage.   The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) aims to counter the poachers, smugglers and dealers whose activities threaten the very existence of many endangered animals.