The U.S. Department of State will host a live Facebook Q&A on Combating Wildlife Trafficking with Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield, March 6, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar criminal activity that has evolved from a conservation issue to an acute security threat. Wildlife trafficking fuels corruption, threatens the rule of law, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and eco-tourism revenues. Criminal organizations, including some terrorist entities, are increasingly involved in this illicit trade, especially the illegal movement of wildlife from source countries in Africa to consumer countries across East Asia.

The Facebook Q&A will provide an opportunity for press and the public to ask questions about the Department of State’s efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. Assistant Secretary Brownfield will answer questions live on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usdos. Questions can also be submitted in advance using the hashtag #WildlifeCrime on the Department of State’s Facebook and Google+ pages, or on Twitter by sending a tweet to @StateDept and using the hashtag #WildlifeCrime.