Question 1 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Environment

Question

Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC):
1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: - Focus on Statement 1. Recall that TRAFFIC is a conservation NGO and a joint program of WWF and IUCN, not a bureau under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This makes Statement 1 incorrect, eliminating options A and C.
- Evaluate Statement 2. The full name of TRAFFIC, Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce, indicates its mission is related to managing wildlife trade. The statement accurately describes this mission, making it correct.
- With Statement 1 incorrect and Statement 2 correct, the only remaining option is B.

Key Info: ## TRAFFIC (Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce)
TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

- **Establishment:** It was founded in 1976.
- **Status:** It is a strategic alliance between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is not a bureau or a part of any United Nations body like the UNEP. This is a crucial distinction often tested in exams.
- **Mission:** Its core mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. It aims to promote sustainable wildlife trade and combat illegal trafficking.
- **Function:** TRAFFIC monitors and investigates wildlife trade, providing information and expertise to governments, conservation bodies, and the public. It works closely with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

## United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global environmental authority within the United Nations system. It is an intergovernmental organization, not an NGO.

- **Establishment:** It was founded in June 1972 as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference).
- **Mandate:** Its purpose is to coordinate the UN's environmental activities, assist developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies, and promote sustainable development. It sets the global environmental agenda.
- **Headquarters:** Nairobi, Kenya.

## WWF and IUCN
- **World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF):** An international NGO founded in 1961, working on wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment.
- **International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):** An international organization comprising both government and civil society members. It is a global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. It publishes the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2