Description
The GTI aspires to a world where, by 2020, wild tigers across Asia will no longer face the risk of extinction - and will live in healthy populations within high conservation value landscapes that are managed sustainably for present and future generations.
The tiger is an indicator of how human society is doing on the larger question of sustaining environmental quality in the face of ever-increasing demands on finite resources. Tiger presence will be a barometer of the critical question: Are we making the right choices to sustain the planet?
The GTI recognises that Wildlife crime poses a serious threat to Asia.
Illegal harvest and trade in wild plants and animals involves organized crime, criminal networks and pervasive corruption driven by sheer greed. It presents risks to human health, biosecurity and livelihoods. It exploits local communities. It offends religious beliefs and moral values. It results in significant loss of revenue to governments. It generates massive proceeds for criminals and the trade has been exploited by insurgent groups.
Wildlife crime stands alongside other major threats to the natural systems that sustain human life. It is a significant transnational problem, which must be addressed with the same tools of law enforcement as drug, human and arms trafficking.