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The author highlights the role of social media and technology in facilitating the illegal wildlife trade, which has an estimated annual value of at least 20 billion USD. To counter this, the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online—founded in 2018 by WWF, TRAFFIC, and IFAW—works with tech companies' Trust & Safety teams to improve content policies, training, and automated detection. Between March 2018 and September 2021, Coalition members reported removing or blocking over 11.6 million prohibited wildlife listings. The author warns that tech industry layoffs and personnel turnover threaten this progress and urges new tech teams to leverage existing institutional knowledge and partnerships with law enforcement and financial institutions to disrupt trafficking networks.

The IAI Directorate expanded its international visibility and partnerships through participation in major climate and biodiversity forums, including the IPCC, UNFCCC, and CBD. Key achievements include securing Observer Status with the IPCC and UNCCD, establishing Memoranda of Understanding with Future Earth and IPBES, and launching a digital science communication campaign during COP-23. The Directorate also focused on enhancing the science-to-policy interface, specifically regarding ocean knowledge, climate-resilient megacities in the Americas, and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.