### The impact of the COVVI-19 on the trafficking of pangolin and ivory scales: a nuanced analysis
The illegal transport of scales of Pangolin and Ivory represents a major anthropological, economic and environmental issue. However, a recent report by the Wildlife Justice Commission, based in The Hague, highlights a significant change in this area, which should be considered carefully and discernment.
#### A spectacular modification of the criminal landscape
Since 2020, a notable decrease in seizures of scales of Pangolin and Ivory has been observed, compared to the pre-Pandemic period. While in 2019, record shipments were noted, totaling tons of materials strengthening the hypothesis of a large-scale operation of criminal networks, post-2020 data reveal a reverse situation. The Commission has evokes a “remarkable and sustained disruption” since the start of the Cavid-19 pandemic.
This reduction could be attributed to several factors. First, the immediate impact of travel restrictions and health measures has undoubtedly slowed the supply chains. However, it would be reducing to assign this development only to the pandemic. A series of efforts to apply the law, price fluctuations and the evolution of demand could also play a key role.
### The effects of legal actions in the field
Seen through the prism of the operations of the police, the situation offers an encouraging perspective. The report notes a proactive response from the authorities, with an increase in seizures in Africa, a nerve often in touch with deforestation and other environmental atrocities. This could indicate an adaptation of the strategies of the police at the local level, more effectively targeting traffic places.
However, some questions remain. Could the drop in global seizures translate an adaptation of criminal networks, which have become more discreet, or does it simply represent a decrease in the overall volume of traffic? Could we consider that the networks are moving away from risky methods, opting for smaller and less visible shipments? It is essential to keep in mind that the complexity of this phenomenon exceeds a simple binary painting of success or failure.
### Market dynamics and their implications
The economic aspect is not to be overlooked. The report indicates that the values of the pangolin scales have decreased and stabilized at lower levels, just like ivory. These changes could report an impairment of demand in Asian markets, but there are questions about the persistence of this request. If the price is an indicator of market health, this also involves a paradigm shift in buyers, potentially due to an increasing awareness of the ethical and environmental implications linked to these products.
#### Reflections on the future of the fight against trafficking
In short, it seems that a renewal of efforts to stem illegal traffic is currently taking advantage of a relative break, but this dynamic could be fragile. Reducing the volume of seizures and operations can be attributed to the vulnerability of criminal networks, which adapt their solutions to the new landscape.
The report underlines the need to target criminal networks as a whole rather than focusing solely on goods, an approach that raises the question of the effectiveness of current measures. While the fight against wilderness traffic continues to evolve, decision -makers are summoned to consider integrated and flexible strategies, taking into account illicit market nuances.
Thus, this reflection on the incidence of the COVID-19 on the range of scales of Pangolin and Ivory highlights not only the immediate effects of the pandemic on organized crime, but also the upcoming challenges for effective regulation and sustainable protection of fauna. By trying to understand the dynamics at stake, we have the opportunity to lay the foundations for a more effective fight against this scourge, both for biodiversity and for the ecosystems that we share.