MSc thesis defence Shareena Dwarka: Stakeholder Analysis on the Dutch Wildlife Trade Policy

Supervisor: Siera Vercillo
Examiner: Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen

Date & Time: August 22, 12.30 p.m.
Location: online via MS teams meeting link

Countries in the Global North play a critical role in facilitating wildlife trafficking, undermining the conservation efforts of nations in the Global South. Despite the 2011 call by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for stronger national enforcement against wildlife trafficking, both international and national efforts have largely failed to address the issue effectively. Stakeholder analysis serves as a key tool for evaluating the effectiveness of policy responses. This study examines the domestic governance of wildlife trafficking in the Netherlands, a prominent Global North country, to assess the effectiveness of its wildlife trade policies. Through a comprehensive analysis of policy and media documents, this research identifies and maps the interests, influence, and positions of stakeholders within the Dutch wildlife trade policy process. Twenty-three stakeholders were identified, including six governmental bodies, ten non-governmental organizations (NGOs), one academic institution, and two hidden stakeholders. The analysis reveals that while governmental bodies exert the highest level of influence, they fall short in addressing key policy gaps that contribute to wildlife trafficking. Fragmentation within wildlife trade governance, characterized by overlapping responsibilities across multiple ministries, results in a lack of unified action. In contrast, NGOs show strong alignment in advocating for policy reform and regularly form coalitions and lobby with hidden political parties to amplify their influence. Moreover, stakeholder engagement is predominantly confined to government experts, excluding external actors from the decision-making process. This exclusion highlights a critical gap in policy formulation and implementation. This study underscores the need for a more integrated and inclusive approach to policy development. Such improvements could enhance the effectiveness of domestic governance and contribute to mitigating global wildlife trafficking.