TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature

TRAFFIC runs workshops on governance and transparency in the Amazon basin

A representative of a local chainsaw and logger association shows his documentation for legal timber Click photo to enlarge © TRAFFIC South America  Quito, Ecuador, 21 November 2008--Local people living in and close to Amazonian forests in Ecuador have been consulted through a new TRAFFIC project to devise the best ways to manage their forests sustainably and prevent forest loss and degradation.

TRAFFIC and local partner Servicio Forestal Amazonico brought together local forestry stakeholders including loggers, timber traders, carpenters, indigenous people, forest authorities, police, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and others.

"People living in or close to forests can have a strong interest to conserve and manage their natural resource sustainably, but all too often their forests are being cleared or over-exploited," said Ulrich Malessa, TRAFFIC South America's Regional Timber Programme Co-ordinator.

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TRAFFIC is helping run a campaign in Viet Nam to raise awareness of the threat to marine turtle populations caused by illegal trade Click photo to enlarge © Jürgen Freund / WWF-Canon  Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 20 November 2008—Travelers through Ha Noi this November might see something strange around West Lake: a line of cyclists dressed as turtles making their way through the traffic.

The cyclists, who will be carrying signs about marine turtle conservation, are part of a month-long strategic awareness campaign to alert the public to the conservation threat posed by illegal trade in marine turtles.

In addition to the bicycle road show, banners are being hung along major thoroughfares in Ha Noi, with messages highlighting the wild status of marine turtles and the illegality of purchasing marine turtles and their products.

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Cambridge, UK, 19 November 2008—Healing Power from Nature, the TRAFFIC / WWF film launched earlier this year, has won the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic prize at the 35th International Festival of Sustainable Development Films.

 Healing Power from Nature: a new film explains the ISSC-MAP initiative (running time 6 minutes)

NOTE: If you are unable to see a still from the movie above, you can watch the film here.

TRAFFIC’s Susanne Honnef, who helped write and guide the film’s content commented: “TRAFFIC and WWF are delighted to receive this recognition at the International Festival of Sustainable Development Films.”

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