ABSTRACT
From wool and leather to perfumes and fine foods, wildlife is a major source of raw materials for the luxury industry. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was established in 1973 as a response to growing concerns that over-exploitation of wildlife through international trade was contributing to the rapid decline of many species of plants and animals around the world. Growing numbers of newly wealthy people in emerging economies are becoming consumers of luxury products previously reserved only for the elite. There are clear signs that our growing appetite for nature-based luxury products is putting serious strain on some animal and plant populations, and in some cases the danger of these species going extinct in the wild is becoming very real. The luxury industry can be rather opaque when it comes to disclosing information along the chain of custody.
