Dynamics of Wildlife Trafficking in Brazil: Spatial and Temporal Patterns Based on the SisCETAS Database

Wildlife trafficking is one of the main threats to Brazilian biodiversity, contributing to the decline of native populations. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) maintains a strategic database on this illegal activity, through records of seizures, voluntary surrenders, and rescues carried out by Wildlife Screening Centers (CETAS). Despite this, studies of national scope that integrate spatial and temporal patterns of these records with socioeconomic factors, social network data analysis, and biological characteristics of the affected species are still scarce. In this context, this study will investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of vertebrate trafficking in Brazil based on historical data from the literature, SisCETAS, and other IBAMA systems, seeking to identify trends and changes over time. The most frequently seized species in different regions will be evaluated, relating their search volume on digital platforms to morphophysiological characteristics and socioeconomic indicators associated with capture, commercialization, and consumption. Additionally, factors related to the mortality of individuals in CETAS (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers) will be analyzed, considering the type of entry, the species involved, and the structure of the centers, allowing the identification of species most vulnerable to the capture and captivity cycle. It is expected that the results will reveal consistent patterns of trafficking in the country, associated with urbanization, the demand for specific species, and the regional availability of fauna, as well as providing support for performance indicators for CETAS and strategies to improve management, rehabilitation, and release actions.