Shannon Noelle Rivera
Research Themes
Gender & Wildlife Crime
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Gender in the 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report
UNODC, Research and Analysis Branch, Wildlife Crime Research Unit
Served as an illegal wildlife trade specialist working to improve knowledge of illegal wildlife trade trends with a specific focus on the gender dynamics of the trade for several key species for South America. This work falls under a new partnership between UNODC and USAID on exploring the role that women can play in both facilitating and preventing wildlife crime. Learn more about UNODC's Wildlife Crime Research Unit. |
Gender is mentioned for the first time in a World Wildlife Crime Report in the third edition.
The 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report reports on this gender work, other issues, trends and more.
The 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report reports on this gender work, other issues, trends and more.
Disposal of Illegally Traded and Confiscated Live Animals
University of Winchester
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Rivera, S.N., Knight, A., McCulloch S.P. 2021. Surviving the Wildlife Trade in Southeast Asia: Reforming the ‘Disposal’ of Confiscated Live Animals under CITES. Animals. 11(2), 439. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020439
This research originated as part of a Masters of Science dissertation from the University of Winchester, Department of Politics and Society, Centre from Animal Welfare, focused on the disposal of illegally traded and confiscated live animals.
In response to the illegal wildlife trade, successful enforcement often involves the seizure, confiscation, and subsequent management of illegally traded wildlife. Unfortunately, confiscated live animals often experience substandard care. In this study, we investigate the barriers to the ‘disposal’ of confiscated live animals in Southeast Asia.
‘Disposal’ is the term used for what happens to illegally traded wildlife after confiscation. Guidelines for the ‘disposal’ of live specimens are provided by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), although individual nations must enforce this within their own legislation.
Eighteen experts were interviewed from seven countries in Southeast Asia revealing eight categories of barriers to the disposal of confiscated live animals. Seven recommendations are proposed to help reform the disposal of confiscated live animals, which would support the efficient and humane management of illegally traded wildlife in Southeast Asia and globally.
In response to the illegal wildlife trade, successful enforcement often involves the seizure, confiscation, and subsequent management of illegally traded wildlife. Unfortunately, confiscated live animals often experience substandard care. In this study, we investigate the barriers to the ‘disposal’ of confiscated live animals in Southeast Asia.
‘Disposal’ is the term used for what happens to illegally traded wildlife after confiscation. Guidelines for the ‘disposal’ of live specimens are provided by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), although individual nations must enforce this within their own legislation.
Eighteen experts were interviewed from seven countries in Southeast Asia revealing eight categories of barriers to the disposal of confiscated live animals. Seven recommendations are proposed to help reform the disposal of confiscated live animals, which would support the efficient and humane management of illegally traded wildlife in Southeast Asia and globally.
Media Coverage:
Life After Wildlife Trafficking: What Happens to Rescued Animals?
A recent paper published in the journal Animals examines what happens to these creatures, and why. Focusing on Southeast Asia, a wildlife trading hot spot, the researchers found that illegally traded wildlife are often not handled in a way most beneficial to the animals due to a combination of corruption, exploitation, and lack of policy, funding, expertise and capacity. Read more
Life After Wildlife Trafficking: What Happens to Rescued Animals?
A recent paper published in the journal Animals examines what happens to these creatures, and why. Focusing on Southeast Asia, a wildlife trading hot spot, the researchers found that illegally traded wildlife are often not handled in a way most beneficial to the animals due to a combination of corruption, exploitation, and lack of policy, funding, expertise and capacity. Read more
Assisted Colonization for Climate Sensitive Species
University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Ecology Lab
Learn more...
Rivera, S. N., Fortini, L. B., Plentovich, S., & Price, M. R. (2021). Perceived Barriers to the Use of Assisted Colonization for Climate Sensitive Species in the Hawaiian Islands. Environmental Management, 1-11.
Download PDF here
Download PDF here
This research involves defining and identifying perceived and existing barriers to the management option of assisted colonization, which is defined as "the intentional movement and release of an organism outside its indigenous range to avoid extinction." (IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions). Despite many recorded successes, assisted colonization is still rarely used, our research team has been identifying the barriers to implementing the use of this tool in the Pacific Region.
Why?
The current rate of climate change is challenging the ability of many species to naturally adapt, scientific modeling predicts these rapid shifts with make certain localities inhabitable for vulnerable species by the end of this century. These unprecedented changes call for novel strategies to be implemented to conserve many of our world's species.
What We Found
Why?
The current rate of climate change is challenging the ability of many species to naturally adapt, scientific modeling predicts these rapid shifts with make certain localities inhabitable for vulnerable species by the end of this century. These unprecedented changes call for novel strategies to be implemented to conserve many of our world's species.
What We Found
Tarantula Trade
Collaboration with Oxford University | FFI
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Assessing the risk of overexploitation to a tarantula species in the pet trade
Conservation Biology
Volume 38, Issue 5: Special Issue: Beyond Charismatic Megafauna in Illegal Wildlife Trade
Oct 2024
Volume 38, Issue 5: Special Issue: Beyond Charismatic Megafauna in Illegal Wildlife Trade
Oct 2024
The global pet trade in invertebrates remains poorly understood and underrepresented in policy and research. Tarantulas are a highly traded invertebrate group. Many individuals in trade are wild caught, and trade regulation is often lacking, raising concerns about the effect of trade on local ecosystems and populations. We addressed local concerns surrounding the international trade of Tapinauchenius rasti (Caribbean diamond tarantula), which is endemic to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We assessed the extinction risks associated with this widely traded species by analyzing supply of and demand for the species with the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation, behavior) model. This model breaks down decision-making into capability, opportunity, and motivation. We interviewed stakeholders throughout the supply chain and analyzed content of an online hobbyist forum and a time series of prices for this species and other tarantulas. In terms of motivation, there was limited preference for the Caribbean diamond tarantula due to its morphology and behavior. In terms of opportunity, the species was readily available, primarily through captive breeding. Collecting wild specimens is challenging due to enforcement measures and logistical difficulties, making it an unprofitable endeavor. In terms of capability, the species was relatively low in price, likely because it is easy to breed in captivity. As a result, the current wildlife trade does not pose a significant threat to the Caribbean diamond tarantula. Our methodology can serve as a valuable tool for assessing potential threats posed by trade to other spider species and possibly other invertebrates. Understanding these threats is crucial for promoting responsible and sustainable trade practices that minimize risks to wild populations while ensuring equitable benefits for communities coexisting with wildlife.
Global Environmental
Governance
UNITAR | UOC | USFWS
Challenges in assessing the effects of environmental governance systems on conservation outcomes
How Diplomats Participate in Global Environmental Governance: Brazil & Indonesia
Award for Best Master's Thesis 2022 | Universitat Oberta Catalunya
This research aimed to identify and understand how career diplomats participate in global environmental governance by qualitatively investigating competencies, experiences, and perceptions related to conservation diplomacy and other key environmental policy topics. Being that embassies are a representation of a country's government, this study sought to connect with individuals that identify as career diplomats working in foreign embassies and permanent missions of the Republic of Indonesia and Brazil. These two countries represent useful case study nations due to the ecological importance of the respective regions, their position within international diplomacy, their colonial history, and their environmental policies.
The research establishes the major conclusion that although diplomats assigned to foreign embassies and permanent missions recognize the need to interact with environmental issues, they may not be adequately equipped to participate in global environmental governance effectively. This was found to be is essentially linked to the weak intrinsic national interests regarding environmental issues that drive diplomatic priorities which is upheld by ruminants of colonial polices of the past, as well as adverse perceptions that prevent proper measures from being taken. This research calls attention to the importance of human perceptions that play an influential role in international politics, reinforcing the idea that reshaping detrimental perceptions is important, but so is dismantling unjust an unfair political and economic systems that have evolved from remnant colonial structures. Diplomats yield significant influence in international relations and have the ability, and oftentimes the desire, to support the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of global environmental governance structures - they simply need the resources, political will, public backing, and space to do so.
This research aimed to identify and understand how career diplomats participate in global environmental governance by qualitatively investigating competencies, experiences, and perceptions related to conservation diplomacy and other key environmental policy topics. Being that embassies are a representation of a country's government, this study sought to connect with individuals that identify as career diplomats working in foreign embassies and permanent missions of the Republic of Indonesia and Brazil. These two countries represent useful case study nations due to the ecological importance of the respective regions, their position within international diplomacy, their colonial history, and their environmental policies.
The research establishes the major conclusion that although diplomats assigned to foreign embassies and permanent missions recognize the need to interact with environmental issues, they may not be adequately equipped to participate in global environmental governance effectively. This was found to be is essentially linked to the weak intrinsic national interests regarding environmental issues that drive diplomatic priorities which is upheld by ruminants of colonial polices of the past, as well as adverse perceptions that prevent proper measures from being taken. This research calls attention to the importance of human perceptions that play an influential role in international politics, reinforcing the idea that reshaping detrimental perceptions is important, but so is dismantling unjust an unfair political and economic systems that have evolved from remnant colonial structures. Diplomats yield significant influence in international relations and have the ability, and oftentimes the desire, to support the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of global environmental governance structures - they simply need the resources, political will, public backing, and space to do so.
To be shared following publication
Urban and Community Forestry
Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program; Smart Trees Pacific
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- Collaborated on project using high-resolution aerial imagery and LiDAR to assess tree canopy change during a specific time interval.
- Led effort to systematically inventory +11,000 city trees in Oʻahu’s urban areas.
- Employed a web-based geospatial tree inventory software application designed for inventorying and managing trees using GIS and web cloud-hosting technologies.
- Assisted in effort to systematically assess stewardship activities for 2 districts of Oʻahu using wide scale survey techniques. STEW-Map Project supported by USDA Forest Service; Region 5.
Award given to the citizen science volunteers collecting data on Oahuʻs urban forests