Review of related literature of illegal wildlife trade

Philippines, having 7,641 islands with 100 million people relying on biodiversity is one of the countries in Southeast Asia battling against illegal wildlife trade (IWT) which is one of the significant causes of damage to biodiversity and the extinction of species globally. IWT can cause damage to habitats, increase criminal networks, increase transmission of diseases among species, and may cause disturbance to the stability of the economy (Cardoso et.al., 2021). Journals and publications between 2010- 2021 on the illegal wildlife trade were reviewed. These journals focus on illegal wildlife trade channels, addressing illegal wildlife trade, and the technologies used to fight against illegal wildlife trade. Normally, illegal wildlife trades were largely carries out on the physical market and now that pandemic has occurred, most of the wildlife were traded online (TRAFFIC, 2021). With the increasing trend of illegal wildlife trade, programs and projects were launched by different organizations locally and internationally. The Wildlife Act of 2001 (Republic Act No. 9147) gives legal protection against trade to all native and non-native species in the Philippines. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) is one of the most important international agreements which regulates international trade in over 38,700 listed species of animals and plants (Fischer, 2021). Improving stronger engagements of government, private sectords, NGOs and civil society may be established to improve policies regarding IWT.