Wild animals targeted by trafficking networks are at the centre of a Brazil-led agreement to begin new international treaty talks. Governments approved the step on 23 October in Vienna, Austria.
The proposed agreement would support cooperation against organised environmental crime across borders. Wildlife trafficking, illegal timber trade, illegal mineral extraction and waste trafficking are among the areas covered, Brazil’s environment ministry said. gov.br
The talks would develop an additional agreement under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. This existing treaty helps countries work together against criminal networks.
Amazon Watch, an organisation supporting the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous rights, welcomed the decision. It said the resolution recognises the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities. However, arrangements to guarantee their participation in the negotiations still need to be developed. Amazon Watch
The decision follows several years of work. Brazil’s environment ministry began promoting the initiative in 2023. Governments opened formal discussions in 2024, followed by expert meetings in 2025 and 2026.
The practical challenge is already clear. During Operation Thunder in 2025, authorities in Brazil rescued more than 1,000 birds while dismantling wildlife-smuggling groups, as The Animal Reader reported at the time. gov.br
The new decision opens negotiations. It does not yet create a final treaty or demonstrate a reduction in wildlife trafficking.
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