Voluntary consensus based geospatial data standards for the global illegal trade in wild fauna and flora
Meredith L Gore1,2, Lee R Schwartz3, Kofi Amponsah-Mensah4
1Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. gorem@umd.edu.
Scientific Data
|June 6, 2022
Summary
Developing geospatial data standards is crucial for combating wildlife trafficking. These standards enable better data utilization and analysis, leading to more effective interventions against illegal wildlife trade.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Science
- Data Science
- Geospatial Analysis
Background:
- Wildlife trafficking generates substantial data, yet its potential for informing interventions remains largely untapped.
- Effective wildlife trafficking control necessitates integrated data collection, aggregation, and analysis across diverse geographic locations.
- Geospatial data are vital but often underutilized due to a lack of standardized formats, hindering data accessibility and aggregation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement geospatial data standards specifically designed to enhance efforts against wildlife trafficking.
- To facilitate the improved collection, aggregation, and analysis of wildlife trafficking data.
Main Methods:
- Conducted voluntary, participatory workshops involving diverse, multisectoral stakeholders across three continents.
- Utilized online portals and electronic communication to engage over 100 participants.
- Focused on creating practical geospatial data standards applicable to real-world decision-making.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed and disseminated geospatial data standards for wildlife trafficking.
- The developed standards support data-driven decision-making, contributing to indictments and network disruption.
- Enabled broader data utilization across disciplines and sectors.
Conclusions:
- Geospatial data standards are essential for unlocking the full potential of wildlife trafficking data.
- Implementation of these standards accelerates data aggregation and analysis, advancing evidence-based interventions.
- Standardized geospatial data are a key tool in reducing global wildlife trafficking and its associated criminal networks.
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