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The role of informal networks in promoting illegal wildlife trade: a qualitative analysis from Uganda

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Abstract

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) poses a threat to many countries in Africa, Asia, South and Central America. While the role of informal networks in sustaining wildlife trafficking is ever more on the radar of scholars and practitioners, their modus operandi remains largely understudied. The literature tells us that these informal networks play a role in sustaining this illicit cross-border trade. This paper deep-dives into this and the roles and strategies used by informal networks of poachers, intermediaries, traffickers, and buyers to transport high volumes of wildlife products into, through and out of Uganda. This East African country is an essential entrepôt for wildlife trafficking in East Africa. The analysis is informed by qualitative fieldwork conducted in Uganda between 2019 and 2020. It comprises 47 interviews with Ugandan-based and international anti-IWT experts and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with wildlife conservation and anti-corruption experts in Kampala, and members of reformed poachers’ networks in Western Uganda and individuals living around a wildlife habitat in Northern Uganda. This research focuses on the types of actors, functions, and strategies significant for facilitating IWT in the country. The empirical findings confirm the role of informal networks in promoting the illegal wildlife trade in Uganda. First, this paper differentiates between categories of actors depending on their key role in managing illegal wildlife trade in Uganda. Second, it explores the mechanisms of coordination that these actors use to govern network relations for achieving various illicit goals. Third, it analyses the type of informal governance system that enables such mechanisms of network coordination, as based on a mix of centralisation and decentralisation, and organized and opportunistic strategies. Lastly, the empirical findings highlight these informal cross-border networks for being flexible structures that adapt to so-called patterns of ‘least resistance’.

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Jacopo Costa, Saba Kassa and Robert Lugolobi. The analysis of the data was performed by Jacopo Costa, Saba Kassa and Claudia Baez-Camargo. The writing, review and editing of the manuscript was performed by Jacopo Costa, Saba Kassa and Claudia Baez-Camargo, and all authors commented on previous version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Jacopo Costa.

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Disclosure of potential conflict of interests:

This research was funded by PMI IMPACT, a grant award initiative of Philip Morris International (PMI). In the performance of their research, the authors maintained full independence from PMI. The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of PMI. Neither PMI, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein.

Research involving human participants – ethics approval:

The study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Research and Ethics committee of the Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda), School of Social Sciences (04.10.2020; MAKSS REC 10.19.336).

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This research has involved human subjects who have freely given their informed consent to participate, by signing an information form provided by the researchers before the start of the interviews and focus group discussions. The participants in the research also agreed to the publication of the results by signing the form. The publication has to happen in a secure way, assuring complete anonymity and protection of personal data.

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Costa, J., Baez-Camargo, C., Kassa, S. et al. The role of informal networks in promoting illegal wildlife trade: a qualitative analysis from Uganda. Trends Organ Crim 26, 397–419 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-021-09433-y

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