About us

The UK government is committed to tackling the illegal wildlife trade. The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund provides financial support to practical projects around the world which are:

• reducing demand for IWT products
• ensuring effective legal frameworks and deterrents
• strengthening law enforcement
• developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT

The illegal wildlife trade is a criminal industry worth more than £17 billion each year threatening both wildlife and people.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund (IWTCF) has committed £37m to 113 projects around the world, in over 50 countries, since 2014.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For further information on the related funds, the Darwin Initiative and Darwin Plus working in the UK Overseas Territories, please follow the links provided below:

• Darwin Initiative: https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/
• Darwin Plus: https://dplus.darwininitiative.org.uk/

IWT Advisory Group membership

John E. Scanlon (Chair) – Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation

UK Government policy advisers from:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Members with IWT knowledge or experience:

UK Border Force Representatives

Jonathan Barzdo – Independent

Dr Dilys Roe – International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

Naomi Doak – Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Asia)

Grace Ge Gabriel – International Fund for Welfare of Animals (IFAW)

Sheldon Jordan – Environment Canada, Wildlife Enforcement Directorate

Steven Broad – Independent

David Fein – Standard Chartered Bank

Tanya Wyatt – Northumbria University

Mary Rice – Environment Investigation Agency (EIA)

Rebecca Drury – Fauna and Flora International (FFI)

Christian Plowman – Cops Without Borders

Dr Carly Cowell – Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Alison Littlewood – Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)