ELI's 2022 Impact
Earth League International (ELI)
The Intelligence Agency for Earth.
As we kick off 2023, ELI is proud to present a few of our most important impacts and highlights from 2022!
2022 was a critical year for the environment, as the global community continued to work together for a more secure, resilient, and sustainable planet.
As the Intelligence Agency for Earth, ELI successfully addressed environmental and wildlife crime worldwide through innovative, bold, and courageous actions.
ELI'S FIELD OPERATIONS SUCCESSFULLY FIGHT WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME AROUND THE WORLD
OPERATION JAGUAR: ELI Celebrates 5 Years of Field Operations
Since 2017, Operation Jaguar has aimed to tackle jaguar trafficking in Latin America, focusing on the trade’s scale, nature, and dynamics. It is a joint project of IUCN Netherlands, Earth League International (ELI), and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and is funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
Our intelligence has directly addressed critical knowledge and information gaps, providing an evidence-based understanding of the nature, scale, and dynamics of jaguar trafficking in the region.
One of the biggest successes of Operation Jaguar has been our partnership with Bolivian authorities to arrest five of South America’s top jaguar traffickers.
Through the sharing of numerous Confidential Intelligence Briefs (CIBs), we have provided actionable intelligence to government and law enforcement authorities around the world, including INTERPOL, CITES, the Bolivian authorities, and a variety of U.S. law enforcement agencies.
OPERATION STELLA MARIS: Continued Success in Fighting Shark Fin Trafficking in Latin America
Over the course of 2022, ELI's team has carried out over a dozen field investigations in Latin America.
Through these operations, we have identified dozens of the top shark trafficking networks operating in at least 10 countries in Latin America, with connections to the United States and China.
To better understand the impact of this work, the biggest trafficking network identified and targeted by ELI is responsible for the killing of 400,000 sharks every year, based on the amount of shark fins they allegedly ship every month.
We will continue our field investigations in 2023 to accelerate action and provide authorities with the information needed to effectively prosecute the highest-ranking environmental criminals.
OPERATION FAKE GOLD: Protecting the Vaquita
Since 2017, ELI has been at the forefront of addressing wildlife and environmental crime through intelligence gathering and field investigations across Mexico.
Through Operation Fake Gold, we have fought to protect and save the endangered vaquita porpoise, which is nearly extinct due to China’s demand for the swim bladders, or ‘maws,’ from a giant Mexican fish called the totoaba. The vaquita and other marine life are primarily killed as bycatch in the illegal gillnets used to catch totoabas.
Over the past six years, ELI has researched and exposed the most important totoaba and seafood trafficking networks operating from central Mexico, as well as their connections and associates in China and the U.S.
We have produced and shared numerous Confidential Intelligence Briefs (CIBs) with Mexican and U.S. government authorities. Our work has facilitated the arrests of six key totoaba traffickers.
With only an estimated 10 vaquitas remaining, ELI's work to dismantle the illegal fishing of the "Totoaba Cartels" is time-sensitive and critically needed.
The Mexican and U.S. governments advocate for ELI's continued work and we are excited to continue our investigations in 2023.
A Message From Executive Director Andrea Crosta
"ELI's work supported the dismantling of one of the six different totoaba cartels. Five similar cartels are operating in Mexico actively trafficking totoaba as we speak. It is important to continue this effort to investigate these cartels, especially the international connection, how they smuggle and sell this fish to Asia, as well as elements of environmental crime convergence.”
OPERATION HUMMINGBIRD: ELI Continues Investigations in Costa Rica
ELI has been at the forefront of investigating and fighting wildlife, shark-fin, and seafood trafficking in Costa Rica. Our investigators completed new field operations in 2022, through which we developed a comprehensive baseline of wildlife trafficking dynamics and key criminal syndicates in the region.
ELI will continue its operations in 2023 and its collaborations with governmental and law enforcement authorities in the region to begin engaging in strategic action against the most important environmental criminals in the region.
OPERATION OLD WORLD: ELI Begins Exciting New Operations in Europe
ELI began a series of field operations in Europe aimed at identifying the top wildlife traffickers and their transnational networks.
Our investigations focus on addressing the major organized crime groups involved in the trafficking of illegal wildlife products from Asia to Europe.
ELI will continue its operations in 2023 and will continue to provide authorities with novel information related to this issue.
领英推荐
OUR WORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME CONVERGENCE
In 2022, ELI brought its work on Environmental Crime Convergence to the public. For many years we have served as a pioneer in the use of professional intelligence and analysis to provide empirical evidence and information regarding environmental crime convergence.
ELI's extensive fieldwork has allowed for the collection of first-hand information from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
This allows us to go beyond anecdotal research on convergence, and to provide novel evidence of how environmental crime converges or overlaps with other serious crimes, including human smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
This year we published two groundbreaking reports to raise awareness among the public, governments, law enforcement authorities, and policy-makers.
Over the past five years, ELI has conducted undercover investigations on jaguar trafficking and converging criminal activities in Latin America as part of Operation Jaguar.
This report provides an overview of ELI’s key findings in the countries of Bolivia, Suriname, Peru, and Ecuador. Each summary is followed by a regional case study of a top transnational jaguar trafficking network(s) identified through ELI’s investigative fieldwork.
In 2022, ELI developed a powerful partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to raise awareness and increase knowledge regarding Environmental Crime Convergence.
Through a series of case studies and John Jay’s examination of existing convergence typologies, the report provides an immediately applicable and replicable model for addressing environmental crime around the world.
The full report will be published in 2023 and will serve as a critical tool to strengthen and transform existing conservation measures.
Special thanks to our collaborators: Gohar Petrossian Mark Ungar Monique Sosnowski
ELI IN THE NEWS
Featured In Washington Post Article: Undercover Operation To Save Endangered Animals Inspires Graphic Novel
ELI's “Fighting for the Vaquita,” the first graphic novel series dedicated to environmental crime, was featured in the Washington Post. ELI's series of graphic novels has increased public knowledge and understanding regarding the organization's covert missions and the complex world of environmental crime. In 2022, we have received significant media attention for our work, raising awareness regarding the impacts of transnational environmental crime networks.
Executive Director, Andrea Crosta, Raises Awareness Around the World Regarding Environmental Crime
Andrea has had the honor of speaking at numerous international conferences, such as the IX Summit of the Americas and CITES CoP 19. He has also been featured on numerous conservation podcasts, including The Hickory Podcast and The Leadership Enigma Podcast, and finally as a special panelist for organizations such as Better Earth Media.
Learn more here:
As we reflect on these powerful moments from 2022, the ELI team enters the new year with a deep commitment, sense of urgency, and motivation to continue to lead in the fight against environmental crime.
We view our work as a necessary and missing component amongst current conservation approaches.
Our team is dedicated to continuing to raise awareness regarding the prevalence of environmental crime and the underlying role it plays in the destruction of our Planet.
Finally, ELI is tremendously grateful for your support and collaboration in the pursuit of our mission to protect wildlife, ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities for both current and future generations.
Development Executive with 15+ years experience generating revenue and increasing support bases for non-profit and for-profit organizations I Life Coach | TEDx Speaker | Best-Selling Author | Writer: Forbes/Entrepreneur
1 年Nicholas Havey FYI
Associate Professor at John Jay College (CUNY); Deputy Executive Officer (CRJ Doctoral Program- CUNY Graduate Center)
1 年John Jay College and its wildlife crime research team are very proud of our partnertship with ELI, and we are equally devoted to fighting this crime alongside you!