华盛顿——世界地球日，美国国际发展署（ USAID ）向全球机构和个人征集创新的科技解决方案，以帮助打击对于海洋和陆生野生生物的非法贸易。获胜者可以赢得最高达50万美元的奖金，以及技术援助和交流机会，帮助规模化其方案。

野生物贩运危及到包括大象、犀牛、老虎和鲨鱼在内的很多野生物种的生存。每年非法野生物贸易估计金额高达190亿美元。近年来，非法野生物贸易的迅速增长已经引起了世界各地政府和人民的警觉。随着非法市场需求的不断增长，犯罪分子已经变得越来越大胆和有组织性。盗猎者通常与国际犯罪团伙勾结，利用薄弱的法律和执法、国家边境的漏洞以及贪污腐败来进行非法活动。标志性野生物的消失以及与非法贩运相关的暴力因素威胁着当地人民的生计和生态旅游业等相关产业；野生物保护工作也极受危害。

打击野生物犯罪技术挑战赛（www.wildlifecrimetech.org）由美国国际发展署（USAID）发起，并与国家地理学会（National Geographic Society）、史密森尼学会（Smithsonian Institution )和国际野生物贸易研究组织（TRAFFIC）合作，是美国国际发展署支持《打击野生生物贩运的国家战略：实施计划》（Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking）工作的一部分。

挑战赛寻求全球创新者的全新视角，以制止对于野生生物的杀戮。申请者提交的创新科技解决方案需要能有效解决以下四个问题中的至少一个：

• 检测贩运通道

• 增强司法证据强度

• 减少消费需求

• 打击腐败行为

挑战赛由概念说明（Concept Note）、奖项申请（Prize Application）和特等奖申请（Grand Prize Application）三个部分组成。参赛者可在4月22日到6月30日之间提交概念说明。入围者将被邀请递交奖项申请，进入下一轮竞赛。数位获胜者将在提交的奖项申请中产生。除获得每位一万美金的奖金外，获胜者还将获得拓展人际网络的机会和相关技术支持，以帮助加速其科技方案的实现和规模化。每位获奖者还会有机会进一步角逐价值10万到50万美元的1至4个特等奖，帮助最具潜力的方案得到进一步的投资和发展。


USAID Seeks Innovations to Combat Wildlife Trafficking

WASHINGTON – On Earth Day, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) invitesorganizations and individuals to submit innovative science and technologysolutions to help combat the illegal trade in marine and terrestrial wildlife.Successful applicants could win up to $500,000 as well as technical assistanceand networking opportunities to scale their solutions.

Wildlife trafficking endangers elephants, rhinos, tigers,sharks, and many other wildlife species, and has an estimated value of $19billion per year. The recent sharp increase in the illegal wildlife trade hasalarmed both citizens and governments worldwide, as criminals have becomebolder and more organized in response to a growing and lucrative demand.Poachers are often linked to international criminal networks that takeadvantage of weak laws and enforcement, porous borders, and corruption. Theloss of iconic wildlife and the presence of violent elements linked totrafficking threaten local livelihoods and sectors, such as nature-basedtourism, and undermine conservation efforts.

The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge (https://www.wildlifecrimetech.org), an initiativeof USAID in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the SmithsonianInstitution, and TRAFFIC, represents one component of USAID’s efforts tosupport the President’s Implementation Plan for the National Strategy to CombatWildlife Trafficking, unveiled in 2014.

The Challenge is looking for fresh perspectives frominnovators around the world to stem the slaughter of wildlife. Applicationsmust address at least one of four Challenge issues for which innovative scienceand technology solutions could offer immediate impact:

●      detectingtransit routes

●      strengtheningforensic evidence

●      reducingconsumer demand

●     tackling corruption

The Challenge comprises three stages of application: Concept Note,Prize Application, and Grand Prize Application. Concept notes will be acceptedfrom April 22 to June 30, and Finalists will be invited to advance in thecompetition and submit a Prize Application. The Challenge will then selectnumerous Winners from the application pool to receive a prize of $10,000 in additionto promotional and networking opportunities and technical assistance to scaleor accelerate their solutions. Prize Winners will also have an opportunity tofurther compete for one of up to four Grand Prizes worth between $100,000 and$500,000. Grand Prizes will help to further promote, advance, and invest in themost promising solutions.

For moreinformation on the Challenge, please visit the Challenge website:

www.wildlifecrimetech.org

Follow the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge on Sina Weibo: weibo.com/wildlifetech