Unifying regional and national enforcement networks to build an intelligence-led, prosecution-driven front against transnational wildlife trafficking.
Connecting the region to combat wildlife trafficking:
In Colombo, the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) convened with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network (SLaWEN) to strengthen regional coordination against organized, transnational wildlife crime. The session emphasized sharing experiences and strategies to enhance in-country enforcement and cross-border collaboration.
Facilitated by the Environmental Foundation (EFL) in partnership with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the SAWEN Secretariat, the event combined SAWEN’s 12th Executive Committee Meeting with the first-ever joint SAWEN-SLaWEN session. It brought together representatives from all eight SAWEN member states and 15 SLaWEN institutions, including the Attorney General’s Department and the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Participants endorsed a prosecution-led, intelligence-driven, and finance-focused approach that links frontline enforcement with robust legal follow-through. This model integrates criminal investigation, financial-tracking mechanisms, and judicial cooperation to disrupt trafficking networks operating across South Asia.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among law-enforcement, conservation, and financial-oversight bodies to safeguard biodiversity and promote regional justice for nature. The Colombo session marks a pivotal step toward a unified South Asian response to the growing threat of wildlife trafficking.
Press Release – Connecting the region to combat wildlife trafficking
Leave a Reply