Despite increasing awareness globally of the need to integrate and mainstream a gendered approach in international policy arenas, there remains gender-blindness in understanding and responding to illegal wildlife trade. Research, thinking and responses to illegal wildlife trade have generally failed to look at half of the world's population, and gender issues more generally, hence missing important entry points to understand, prevent and tackle the issue. Illegal wildlife trade involves and affects men and women differently, and gender norms play an important part in influencing behaviours and attitudes along the illegal wildlife trade value chain. Put simply, failing to consider gender is like tackling wildlife crime with one hand tied behind your back. The place, role and dynamics of women and men in relation to this trade differ, so it is crucial to consider the gendered implications of illegal wildlife trade if we are to respond in an inclusive and efficient manner to improve the likelihood of conservation success.

In July 2021, WWF released a report, Gender & Illegal Wildlife Trade: Overlooked and Underestimated, which paves the way for more inclusive and informed responses. The report gives an overview of available gender-informed research, field evidence and concepts relating to poaching, trafficking and consumption of wildlife products, and international governance and policy. It identifies key gaps and research needs, explains why looking at illegal wildlife trade through the lens of gender is important, and provides recommendations and a practical framework to help conservation practitioners bring gender analysis into programmes, policies and interventions at local, national and global scales. This gender framework will be available online in September 2021.

Another WWF report, also released in July 2021, Towards Gender Equality in the Ranger Workforce highlights how greater gender equality in the ranger workforce could reduce ranger misconduct and improve conservation outcomes, relationships with communities, and park and wildlife management.

We hope these reports and the gender framework will provide a basis from which to deepen understanding around the importance of integrating gender into conservation. Research and publication were funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. For more information, contact Rob Parry-Jones, Head, Wildlife Crime Initiative (rparryjones@wwfint.org) or Tamara Léger, Illegal Wildlife Trade Global Policy Coordinator (tleger@wwfint.org).