Executive Summary

Our planet is in the midst of a human-induced mass extinction event. Thousands of species are disappearing on land and at sea. Wildlife crime is the second largest threat to species survival, generating billions of dollars in illegal revenue. Fueled entirely by human factors, this problem can be solved. Conservation medicine experts have now joined forces with intelligence operatives and award-winning filmmakers to create a game-changing, high-impact strategy. JANE, our Justice & Action Network for the Earth, uses an intelligence-driven approach to develop 360 views of endangered species in biodiversity hotspots impacted by wildlife trafficking. JANE allows for rapid detection of major threats, disruption of supply chains, and development of holistic conservation actions that integrate and benefit local communities. From the start, ground-breaking filmmakers will expose the issues through social media and film to drive immediate and lasting change, while reinvesting proceeds into the model to ensure scalability and sustainability.

COVID-19 Response

JANE has experienced minimal adverse effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the global health crisis inspired a reexamination of the inherent connection between wildlife trade and infectious disease. In response, we made the following changes: prioritizing the Indo-Burma endangered species hotspot - a hub for wildlife trade and wet markets; enhancing infectious disease monitoring and assessment of the potential for disease transmission to aid in the prevention of pandemics; and incorporating Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) as a collaborator. If travel restrictions continue, we will adapt field operations in the following ways: increase remote work and communication capabilities; build additional collaborations with in-country experts; and reallocate travel funds to further enhance community participation, infrastructure, and local capabilities. Changes to Barrier Assessment/Risk Mitigation are related to augmentation of community-based endangered species conservation through collaboration with our partners, and a stronger emphasis on local film teams and community leaders, facilitating the infusion of increased support into local economies.

Racial and Ethnic Injustice Response

Although the target beneficiaries of JANE are endangered species, our focus on animals impacted by wildlife crime places us squarely in communities that are ensnared in illegal trade as a means of survival. Therefore, the primary human beneficiaries of our intelligence-driven approach and community-based conservation actions include the economically disadvantaged, indigenous peoples, and victims and oppressed people. It is imperative that these beneficiaries are actively contributing to the planning and implementation of viable alternatives and solutions, cultivating inclusion and ownership across community members to ensure success. Our conservation actions for species recovery will aim to empower the marginalized and underserved communities impacted by crime to ensure viable solutions for alternative, sustainable livelihoods are identified and implemented.