Illegal logging in West Papua, April 2009. © Jago Wadley / EIA.
Whole tiger skin for sale in Lhasa, Tibet. © EIA / WPSI.
In 2010/11, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £75,000 to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).
For 25 years, EIA has been protecting the environment with intelligence - developing pioneering investigative methods to generate hard-hitting evidence which is used to promote innovative policy responses. In 2010/11, The Rufford Foundation supported EIA across three areas.
Combating Illegal Trade in Tiger and Other Asian Big Cats
This project focuses on investigating and combating illegal trade networks which smuggle and distribute tiger skins and derivatives into China from India and Nepal. EIA provides intelligence to enforcement agencies to highlight gaps and areas which need improvement. With the culmination of the 2010 Year of the Tiger, EIA will be monitoring international commitments to double wild tiger populations by 2022 and the effectiveness of conservation measures taken to achieve this.
Curbing Trafficking in Environmentally Harmful Chemicals
At the forefront of tracking, investigating and exposing illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances, EIA continues to raise awareness with industry and governments to improve enforcement by the international conventions regulating it. EIA has also been investigating illegal trade in electronic waste from the UK to developing countries.
Protecting Papua’s Forests from Conversion to Plantations
EIA identified large areas of forest targeted for the conversion to bio-fuel plantations by powerful criminal syndicates. In 2010, greater protection was secured for this land reducing the planned area for conversion. EIA aims to monitor compliance from the sector and further reduce the area for conversion by lobbying the Indonesian Government, in conjunction with local partners and civil society in Papua.
