Demise of coral, salamander show impact of Web (Trade in Endangered Species)

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100321/D9EIUHB00.html

Mar 21, 4:36 AM (ET)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Conservationists say the Internet has emerged as one of the greatest threats fueling the illegal wildlife trade, making it easier to buy everything from live baby lions to wine made from tiger bones, conservationists said Saturday.

The web's impact was the focus Sunday at the meeting of the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES.

Iran proposed a trade ban on the Kaiser's spotted newt which the World Wildlife Fund says has been devastated by the Internet trade.

The United States and Sweden propose regulating the trade in red and pink coral which is crafted into expensive jewelry which is advertised on the web.

Surveys by environmental groups found thousands of ads for endangered wildlife on the web mostly in the United States.

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. WWF Story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=115&topic_id=236484&mesg_id=236484

[TreeHuggingLiberal]

2. E-commerce

E-commerce has had a huge impact on endangered reptiles. I had to do a report a few years back on the rise in tortoise trade in Madagascar and the correlation with internet accessibility. E-commerce has also brought about introductions of invasive species all over the states through horticultural catalogs and the pet trade.