The International Air Transport Association has launched its Airport Wildlife Trafficking Assessment Tool to help defeat the smuggling of endangered species.

According to IATA, the tool assesses an airport’s supply chain security, intelligence and risk management, staff awareness, reporting processes and screening policy and procedures for both air cargo and passengers.

“The illegal trafficking of wildlife products, including many iconic and endangered species, is an issue which the aviation industry takes very seriously,” said Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of IATA. “It will take a team effort to combat this deplorable trade. We are working in close partnership with USAID Routes, WCO, CITES and other organizations to make the world a much more difficult place for wildlife traffickers. Our common goal is to preserve our precious wildlife inheritance for future generations to enjoy.”

The tool was developed in partnership with the World Customs Organization and will be piloted at Maputo International Airport in November 2016, with a global rollout scheduled for 2017.

“Actors in the air transport sector can serve as the eyes and ears of enforcement agencies and can be valuable partners in the efforts to eliminate wildlife trafficking from supply chains,” said Kunio Mikuriya, secretary general of WCO. “The assessment tool will enable them to identify weak points in procedures and practices, often exploited by traffickers, as well as ways of strengthening them.”

In March 2016, IATA and 26 of its member airlines signed the Duke of Cambridge’s United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce Buckingham Palace Declaration to raise awareness of wildlife trafficking.

According to de Juniac, new technology such as e-documentation, online check-in and automated baggage drops could help authorities build accurate risk assessments of air cargo shipments and passengers, but close cooperation is needed.

“Whether it is combatting terrorism, stopping the illegal drug trade or putting an end to wildlife trafficking, governments must share information among themselves and with the industry,” he said. “We share a common goal and we must work together to achieve it.”