What are impacts of illicit trade of cultural heritage resources?

1. Loss of cultural identity: When cultural heritage resources are illegally traded, they are often removed from their original context and sold to collectors or museums. This can result in a loss of cultural identity for the communities that the resources belong to.

2. Destruction of archaeological sites: Illicit trade of cultural heritage resources often involves looting of archaeological sites, which can result in irreversible damage to these sites. Once artifacts are removed from their original context, valuable information about the history and culture of a particular region is lost.

3. Economic impact: The illicit trade of cultural heritage resources is a multi-billion dollar industry, with profits often going to criminal organizations. This can have a negative impact on the local economy, as legitimate businesses lose out on revenue that could have been generated through legal trade of cultural heritage resources.

4. Funding of criminal activities: The illicit trade of cultural heritage resources is often linked to other criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and terrorism. Profits from the sale of stolen artifacts may be used to fund these illegal activities, further destabilizing regions and communities.

5. Damage to international relations: The illicit trade of cultural heritage resources can strain relationships between countries, particularly when stolen artifacts are taken across borders. This can lead to diplomatic tensions and hinder cooperation on other issues.

6. Loss of knowledge and understanding: When cultural heritage resources are illegally traded, valuable knowledge about the history and culture of a particular region is lost. This can hinder research and understanding of the past, and limit the ability of future generations to learn from and appreciate their cultural heritage.