Activity Brief

Wildlife trafficking (including trade in protected marine species) is a multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise that has expanded from a conservation concern to an acute security threat. This transnational activity is often backed by organized crime networks that connect poachers and traders in Africa to traders and buyers in Asia, Europe, and the United States. The…

West Africa’s coastal zone plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of the region. The coastal zone supports critical ecosystems and economic activities such as fishing, mining, trade, industry, port infrastructure and tourism. For instance, the fisheries sector, with an annual catch of over 1.85 million metric tons, accounts for over $600 million in…