2025 Illegal Wildlife Trade Workshop Recap

Earlier this month, the Wildlife Crime Research Hub held a two day workshop  from the 11th and 12th of March, the 2025 Illegal Wildlife Trade Workshop at the Shine Dome in Canberra. The event brought together over 50 participants from across the country, including state and federal investigators, wildlife and digital forensic scientists, legal experts, and agency representatives. They were all united and driven sharing one goal, to strengthen and explore the opportunities for legislative reform in Australia.

One of the workshop’s biggest success oppourtunity was to connect people from a broad mix of disciplines. The conversations sparked fresh ideas and set the foundation for stronger, and collaborative relationships.

Key outcomes included:

• Improved coordination between jurisdictions at the enforcement level.
• Greater collaboration between agencies and researchers on developing new tools.
• Momentum toward forming an active and engaged Community of Practice to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

A recurring theme was the need to raise public awareness. Although the impact is serious, the illegal wildlife trade across Australia remains a low-profile issue, often drive by financial gain and carried out by organised crime groups, it demands much more attention and action than it currently does.

Technology, Tools & Teamwork
Participants agreed that to better detect and prevent future illegal wildlife trade across Australia, technology and tool development, along with their adoption, will be critical in the fight. A key recommendation was the creation of a centralised data-sharing and improved intelligence system. This would help overcome the current lack of standardisation across the jurisdictions, this would allow for easier access to research and more consistent use of tools across the country.

Forensic technologies were another key focus, with calls for consistent definitions, shared training, and co-funded tool development, ensuring researchers and enforcement teams are working from the same playbook. Collaborating with research organisations on tool development was seen as an essential step forward to strengthen efforts in combatting wildlife crime.

Minimising Legal Gaps
With the current legal landscape, discussions around obvious problems were highlighted. Penalties for wildlife crimes across Australian states and territories drastically vary, ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. This inconsistency creates challenges for effective enforcement, particularly when these crimes cross jurisdictional boundaries.

There was a repeated call for the harmonisation of legal frameworks across, consistent penalties, and the need for a clear national definition of “wildlife crime.” Doing so would help differentiate between casual collectors and profit-driven criminals, and between crimes with criminal consequences versus those with serious environmental impacts.

Awareness is Key
One of the most important takeaways for combatting the illegal wildlife trade is the need for a dual approach to education, one that engages both the public and those in political and legal circles. While awareness campaigns have made progress in boosting compliance and licence applications, there’s still a long way to go in raising awareness about the true impact of wildlife crime.

Generally, the focus has been on educating the public. This dual approach calls for targeted education for those working in the political and legal spaces; including judges, legal practitioners, and law enforcement officers, along with government executives and politicians. This will ensure a deeper understanding of the complexities of wildlife crime and its broader implications, ultimately leading to stronger enforcement efforts and more serious attention to the issue.

Moving Forward
By engaging communities, key industry representatives, legal experts, and policymakers, we can build a culture of accountability and push for the legal reforms, investments, and collaborations needed to better protect Australia's unique wildlife.

The 2025 Illegal Wildlife Trade Workshop was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passionate people come together with a shared purpose. With the right tools, stronger partnerships, and a national commitment to reform, Australia can lead the way in combatting wildlife crime, and ensuring a safer future for our biodiversity.