The 10th edition of the UNEP Year Book focuses on rapid change in the Arctic and minimizing chemical risks. It also reports on the spike in rhino and elephant poaching in Africa, growing urban environmental challenges, and the accelerating momentum to tackle short-lived climate pollutants.

Escalating levels of poaching and illegal trade in rhino horns are seriously undermining rhino conservation efforts, putting the survival of these species at risk, according to this new report by IUCN and TRAFFIC that examines the conservation status and trade in African and Asian rhino species.

Illegal trade in rhinoceros horn continues to be one of the most structured criminal activities currently faced by CITES. There are clear indications that organized criminal groups are involved in rhinoceros poaching and illegal trade in rhinoceros horn.

This report summarizes the views of a number of governments and international organizations on illicit wildlife trafficking. These views were collected through a series of structured interviews, and this report is the first to provide a snapshot of current governmental and intergovernmental opinions on this topic.

The Central Government has not sought assistance from the World Bank to check poaching in and around national parks and sanctuaries in the country.

This new study by TRAFFIC based on data collected from 2001-2010, analyses the magnitude of illegal trade in leopard parts in India and identifies the geographic 'hotspots' of trade to aid in the conservation and enforcement efforts.