Going over the wall: insights into the illegal production of jaguar products in a Bolivian prison

As the largest felid in the Americas, the jaguar Panthera onca has both ecological and cultural significance in Bolivia. Yet jaguar populations are declining because of multiple pervasive anthropogenic pressures, including domestic and international demand for their body parts. Since 2013, Bolivia has become a centre of the illegal trade of jaguar body parts, driven by demand from Chinese markets. From 2021, there have been anecdotal reports of jaguar body parts being sold to prisons in north-western Bolivia, where inmates use them to make crafts to be sold at local markets. Here we provide further insights into this illegal wildlife trade activity. Specifically, we show that inmates at Mocovi prison in Trinidad purchase skins of jaguars and other wild animals directly from hunters and from vendors at local markets. Goods (wallets, hats and purses) produced from the skins are sold back to vendors by the inmates to provide income for their daily sustenance. Testimony from an inmate also stated that large bulk orders for wildlife products had been received from a non-Bolivian client base. The San Borja municipality in Beni was indicated as a key location where jaguars are being targeted for their skins to supply the illegal production of wildlife products in Mocovi prison. Further studies are required to determine the extent of this illegal activity in Mocovi prison and other prisons in Bolivia, and in other Latin American countries

China Global Investment Tracker

The China Global Investment Tracker is the only comprehensive public data set covering China’s global investment and construction, which are documented both separately and together. It includes over 4100 large transactions across metals, property, agriculture, technology, and other sectors (plus more than 350 troubled transactions). The full set, with the amount, Chinese parent company, host country, and sector, is available for public use with the proper citation. The tracker is published by the American Enterprise Institute

Nuclear Belt and Road and U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Cooperation

An overall look at nuclear related BRI projects being pushed by the PRC

The rise of environmental crime: A growing threat to natural resources peace, development and security

The environment provides the very foundation of sustainable development, our health, food security and our economies. Ecosystems provide clean water supply, clean air and secure food and ultimately both physical and mental wellbeing. Natural resources also provide livelihoods, jobs and revenues to governments that can be used for education, health care, development and sustainable business models. The role of the environment is recognized across the internationally agreed seventeen sustainable development goals adopted in 201

A record-breaking year – 690 tonnes of chemical precursors seized in Chile

Arica (Chile), 20 January 2023 – 2022 was a record-breaking year for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Programme (CCP)

China Regional Snapshot: The Caribbean

A brief analysis by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Chinese driven investment, influence, trade, and military cooperation in the Carribbean

Ports Policy Review of Chile

This report assesses port policies in Chile. It reviews the performance of Chilean ports, analyses current policies and identifies the main bottlenecks to performance within those current policies. Based on this assessment, it offers a series of recommendations that also take into account good international practices relevant for Chile. The report draws on two study visits to Chile, a series of interviews with relevant stakeholders and data made available by these stakeholders

Why China is increasing its presence in the Latin American energy sector

Examining what China being Latin America\u27s second largest trading partner means for the region\u27s energy sector

China Regional Snapshot: South America

While the United States is Latin America’s largest trading partner, China remains South America’s top trading partner

Navigating Risks in Brazil’s Energy Sector: The Chinese Approach

The close engagement between Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Xi Jinping in facilitating the participation of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in the development of Brazil\u27s Libra oil fields highlights the pivotal role of government-level initiatives in fostering strategic partnerships and investment opportunities in the energy industry