EIA

Four years after another investigation into one of the most important hubs for smuggling illegal wildlife products between Africa and Asia, EIA US and @eia_news returned to Vietnam to find that, despite some positive progress, the country is still being exploited by international wildlife crime networks. China remains one of the largest markets for illegal wildlife products, but as it ramps up its enforcement efforts, traffickers find it easier to smuggle goods into the country through its border with Vietnam. In the first analysis of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic, the new report provides critical updates on the status of elephant ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scale trafficking in Vietnam, exposing the routes, payment arrangements, and concealment methods that criminals use to transport those products over its border with China. Vietnam may be at the center of this web of international smuggling operations, but it cannot solve this problem alone. Read the report linked in our bio to learn what we uncovered 🇻🇳

EIA’s new report exposed the largest mercury smuggling operation ever recorded. Our unprecedented investigation tracked more than 200 tons of illegal mercury from Mexico to gold mines in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, fueling the production of over $8 billion worth of illegal gold. Based on our intelligence, Peruvian authorities (SUNAT) seized four tons of smuggled mercury bound for Bolivia. While this is a major victory in the battle against illegal mining, the root of the problem remains. Mercury mining in Mexico is spinning out of control and the international trade that fuels gold mining is a direct violation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international agreement that aims to protect human and environmental health from the deadly chemical substance. Our investigation indicates that the vast majority of mercury produced is being smuggled to the illegal gold mines of the Amazon. It’s time to end the lie that mercury-tainted Amazonian gold is worth the cost. Read the report at the link in our bio to learn how Latin America can cut off this toxic trade ☠️

In March 2024, six workers were killed in an explosion on an oil platform off the coast of Gabon owned by Perenco, one of the world’s largest privately owned oil companies. In our new investigation, we determine that this deadly disaster was preventable. Despite many allegations of environmental and social damages in most of the countries where it operates, Perenco has largely avoided legal consequences for the impact of their activities on ecosystems, workers, and neighboring communities. EIA’s three-year investigation into Perenco reveals how its “shadow headquarters” in Paris prioritizes production at all costs, even if alleged corruption is necessary to cover up evidence of pollution and labour rights violations. Read the report at the link in our bio 🔎

Our recent report reveals how a game reserve owner and rhino breeder is trying to circumvent the international ban on rhino horn trade by suing the South African government to compel it to authorize the export of at least 502 rhino horns to eight different locations. Who are these prospective buyers? After reviewing documents containing their names and contact details, EIA was left with more questions than answers - and concerns that horn may be destined for illegal trade. If rhino horn is exported from South Africa for commercial and medicinal purposes, it would have devastating consequences for wild rhino populations around the world. For #EndangeredSpeciesDay, get the scoop on each prospective buyer and learn more about this reckless gambit to open up global rhino horn trade in the interactive report linked in our bio

EIA joins other civil society organizations in condemning the arrest of 11 community leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for protesting a displacement process they found unjust. The displacement was triggered by the expansion of one of the largest copper-cobalt mines in the world, controlled by the largest cobalt producer in the world - CMOC Group. In 2020, CMOC Group subsidiary Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) built a lime plant near the community of Kabombwa. Scientific analysis suggests that the facility caused air, water, and soil pollution. Displaced community members are reportedly still dealing with serious health problems while living in deeply precarious economic circumstances. “The arrests of the leaders from Kabombwa are deeply concerning,” says Jean-Pierre Lwamba of AFREWATCH. “To be clear, these arrests were arbitrary, and according to sources we have spoken with, appear to have taken place following a complaint lodged by TFM, and according to our information with the possible participation of TFM’s agents.” EIA and its civil society partners are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the leaders who are still in detention. Learn more at the link in our bio

Onze membres de la communauté de Kabombwa ont été arrêtés pour avoir dénoncé les impacts des activités minières liées à Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), l’un des plus grands producteurs mondiaux de #cuivre et de #cobalt. Aux côtés de nos partenaires de la société civile, nous condamnons ces arrestations arbitraires et demandons la libération immédiate et sans conditions des membres détenus dans la province de Lualaba en RDC.

In recent years, rhino poaching and horn seizures have become less visible in the news – but that doesn't mean these majestic creatures are free from the threats posed by poachers and illegal trade. In the latest episode of EIA’s ‘What on Earth?’ podcast, we dive into two recent reports from our colleagues at EIA US which shed light on the complexities of rhino horn trafficking, particularly focusing on an analysis of enforcement efforts in China and the ongoing push in South Africa for a legalised trade to allow exports of horn to other countries. Taylor Tench, a Senior Wildlife Policy Analyst at EIA US, joins EIA UK Senior Press and Communications Officer Paul Newman to talk about the key findings of both reports. Listen now at https://loom.ly/78O4TNc #Africa #Asia #China #SouthAfrica #rhinos #rhinohorn #poaching #illegalwildlifetrade

Underwater noise pollution is an often overlooked source of behavioral stress for belugas and other marine life that depend on sound for survival. Chronic noise exposure is a growing problem across our ocean, but it's particularly disruptive for the Cook Inlet beluga population. Living alongside Alaska's largest port city means that these whales have to navigate, hunt, and communicate over the constant din of ship traffic, oil and gas exploration, and other coastal development projects. Learn why we need to keep Cook Inlet quiet to protect this critically endangered beluga population at the link in our bio 🤫

EIA is deeply concerned by recent allegations that employees of a logging company in the Republic of Congo were threatened by management after speaking out against suspected illegal log exports in a TV5 Monde documentary. The documentary provides new evidence that companies - including Société d’Exploitation Forestière Yuan Dong Congo (SEFYD) - have been profiting from lax enforcement of the country’s log export ban, which was designed to promote local manufacturing, job creation, and reduction of forest crime. “Any reprisal towards workers who cooperate with journalists or authorities would undermine accountability and the rule of law,” says our Africa Programs Manager Fabrice Lamfu. “We join our local partners in urging the Republic of Congo’s government to send a signal that impunity in the forest sector will not be tolerated by protecting the whistleblowers and taking action on their allegations.” Learn more at the link in our bio

EIA est profondément préoccupée par les récentes allégations selon lesquelles des employés d'une entreprise forestière de la République du Congo auraient été menacés par leur direction après s'être exprimés dans un documentaire de TV5 Monde contre l’exportation de grumes présumées illégales. Ce documentaire apporte de nouvelles preuves que de nombreuses entreprises – dont la Société d’Exploitation Forestière Yuan Dong Congo (SEFYD) – ont tiré profit de l’application laxiste de l’interdiction d’exportation de grumes dans le pays, une mesure destinée à promouvoir la transformation locale, la création d’emplois et la réduction de la criminalité forestière. “Toute mesure de représailles à l’encontre des travailleurs qui coopèrent avec les journalistes ou les autorités porterait atteinte au principe de responsabilité et à l’Etat de droit”, a déclaré Fabrice Lamfu, responsable du programme Afrique á EIA. “Nous nous joignons à nos partenaires locaux pour exhorter le gouvernement de la République du Congo à montrer clairement que l'impunité dans le secteur forestier ne sera pas tolérée, en protégeant les lanceurs d'alerte et en donnant suite à leurs dénonciations”. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez sur le lien dans notre bio

Today, EIA launched our Emissions Monitoring and Accountability Platform (EMAP) - an interactive tool to visualize and analyze greenhouse gas data that was previously reported to the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). Additionally, it contains 2024 data yet to be made public by EPA. In September 2025, the EPA proposed to sunset the GHGRP. EMAP is designed to maintain the transparency and interactiveness of the GHGRP’s facility-level information while also providing additional emissions data, such as findings from EIA’s independent investigations into unreported greenhouse gas emissions from chemical manufacturers. “This public resource platform will ensure that policymakers and communities have the information they need to hold polluters accountable,” says our Climate Campaign Director, Avipsa Mahapatra. “We welcome collaboration with other civic-minded organizations, academia, governments, and industry to join us in this ongoing effort” said Julius Banks, former EPA Chief of the GHGRP and current EIA US Senior Technical Lead. Learn more and explore EMAP at the link in our bio

In 2023, a South African game reserve owner sued the government in an effort to compel it to authorize the export of at least 502 rhino horns to prospective buyers in eight different international locations. Our new report shines a light on the prospective importers and warns of the danger this potential rhino horn trade would pose for wild rhino populations. EIA has been closely following this legal battle to circumvent the international ban on rhino horn trade. Following a shocking October 2025 ruling against the government’s effort to push back, the Northern Cape High Court held a hearing on April 29 to weigh the government’s appeal on the decision against Hendrick Diedericks’ continued campaign to set a monumental - and dangerous - legal precedent. If rhino horn is exported from South Africa for commercial and medicinal purposes, it would have devastating consequences for wild rhino populations around the world. Read the report to learn more about this reckless gambit to open up global rhino horn trade 🦏