Regional Workshop in Combating Transnational Wildlife Crime in South Asia

A "Regional Workshop in Combating Transnational Wildlife Crime in South Asia" was conducted by South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, cooperation with WWF Nepal, and financial support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), USA. The program was organized from 24 to 26 July 2024 in Dhulikhel, Nepal. The workshop brought together a total of 32 participants from four SAWEN member countries: Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Participants included representatives from the Department of Forest/Wildlife, Customs, Police, and organizations such as EIA, ICIMOD, NTNC, SAWEN, WWF Bhutan, and WWF Nepal.

The three-day workshop comprised a series of presentations, panel discussions, and group sessions designed to promote knowledge exchange and the sharing of country-specific experiences, best practices, and innovative solutions. Discussions focused on the evolving tactics employed by wildlife traffickers, including the use of fraudulent documentation, online platforms, and informal financial channels. The need for improved collaboration, intelligence sharing, financial investigations, and capacity building was emphasized. Participants identified several challenges, including porous borders, limited species identification capabilities, inconsistent legal frameworks, and insufficient inter-agency coordination. In response, the workshop called for the formalization of cooperation through bilateral agreements, the development of regional databases, the harmonization of legal frameworks, the use of advanced technology, enhanced frontline training, and increased joint operations to strengthen regional efforts against wildlife crime.

The workshop reinforced SAWEN’s ongoing commitment to fostering regional cooperation and a unified approach to combating wildlife crime in South Asia.