TRAFFIC's mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat conservation of nature. TRAFFIC's work is neither easier nor closer to completion than it was in the mid-1970s when TRAFFIC was founded largely to assist in the implementation of CITES. CITES now covers some 30 000 plant and animal species and has more than 150 member countries. These member countries face ever-more complex issues in determining how best to ensure that trade does not threaten the survival of species.

While continuing to support the application of CITES, TRAFFIC has developed its role in addressing wildlife trade issues in a wider context, including major commercial sectors such as fisheries and timber trade and a wide range of regional and local issues.

Over a quarter of a century, TRAFFIC has developed from a single office into a global network of 22 offices in eight regional programmes around the world including many in Africa and TRAFFIC is gradually reaching out to all 18 countries in the region, identifying where its expertise is most needed to help ensure that wildlife trade remains sustainable.