Wildlife and Law: Conservation Governance, International Frameworks, and the Challenges of Enforcement

Abstract

Wildlife law occupies a critical intersection between environmental science, international relations, and domestic legal systems. As biodiversity loss accelerates—driven by habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal trade—the adequacy of existing legal frameworks has come under increasing scrutiny. This article examines the evolution of wildlife law from early common-law doctrines to contemporary multilateral treaties, with particular emphasis on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and regional enforcement regimes. Drawing on comparative legal analysis and empirical data from enforcement agencies, the study evaluates the structural gaps between normative legal standards and practical conservation outcomes. The article argues that effective wildlife governance requires not only stronger international coordination but also the integration of indigenous rights, adaptive management principles, and technology-driven monitoring. The findings have direct implications for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and legal scholars engaged in the urgent task of halting the sixth mass extinction.