Cambodian Government Implements Regional Agreement to Fight Transnational Wildlife Crime

Phnom Penh, August 13, 2010 – Today an inter-agency workshop brought together key officials to reinforce the Cambodian Government’s commitment to combating wildlife crime in cooperation with neighboring countries under the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN). A new Cambodian Wildlife Enforcement Network Coordination Unit (CWCU) will strengthen the existing operational task force to combat the illegal trade of protected species.

Accompanied by ASEAN–WEN representatives and delegates from the United States and neighboring countries, His Excellency Uk Sokhonn, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Cambodia, inaugurated this new national initiative linking Cambodia‘s wildlife law enforcement efforts with neighboring countries for a more coordinated response to cross-border wildlife trafficking.

Since 2001, the Cambodian government has cracked down on the illegal wildlife trade with the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT), an inter-agency wildlife crime investigation and counter-trafficking unit of the Forestry Administration and Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia operating with technical and financial support from Wildlife Alliance. The WRRT has rescued more than 40,000 live wild animals, raided hundreds of restaurants, markets and shops illegally selling wildlife, set up check points on roads and dramatically reduced wildlife crime in Cambodia.

But despite these efforts, many of the country’s most iconic wildlife species, including Tigers, Asian Elephants and Sunda Pangolins now face the threat of extinction in the wild due to poaching and transnational wildlife trafficking. The establishment of the CWCU strengthens the capacity of the Cambodian government to combat crimes against wildlife and promises to improve coordination between the Police, Customs, Military and Judicial Departments in Cambodia, the ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit, and neighboring country task forces.

The WRRT will continue to actively suppress illegal wildlife trade throughout the country and function as the enforcement arm of the CWCU. Through ASEAN-WEN, Cambodian law enforcement officers will have greater authority to conduct transboundary investigations and target wildlife traffickers across international boundaries. Cambodia will also gain greater access to ASEAN-WEN training activities and investigations through the ASEAN-WEN Support Program.

Today’s workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Cambodia, and organized with support from non-governmental conservation groups Wildlife Alliance and FREELAND Foundation with funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). USAID is supporting the development of ASEAN-WEN regionally. CEPF is providing further support to the CWCU.

Manop Lauprasert, Senior Officer of ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit, said, “The establishment of the Cambodian Wildlife Enforcement Network demonstrates Cambodia’s enthusiasm for cooperation within ASEAN and the unbelievably great work Cambodian wildlife authorities have accomplished up to today. ASEAN-WEN hopes this will serve as an example for the entire region to counter wildlife crime.” Participants agreed that governments and civil society must continue to work together to advance coordinated national and international action to stop wildlife crime.

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About the Cambodia Wildlife Enforcement Network Coordination Unit (CWCU):

The CWCU is the national and international focal point for information concerning the illegal wildlife trade for ASEAN-WEN in Cambodia. The CWCU will receive and analyze information concerning wildlife crime from a variety of agencies both inside Cambodia and from foreign law enforcement agencies, via the ASEAN-WEN program, and dispatch it to relevant agencies to suppress and combat illegal wildlife trade based on Cambodian forestry law and Cambodia’s commitment to international conventions.

About Wildlife Alliance (www.wildlifealliance.org):

Wildlife Alliance’s mission is to protect and preserve forests and wildlife for future generations. Our field operations train and equip forest rangers to fight crimes against nature and prevent poaching and habitat destruction in Southeast Asia and the Russian Far East through collaboration with governments and communities. We improve the management of protected areas, rescue wildlife victimized by the wildlife trade, and support sustainable development and environmental education initiatives.

About the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team:

The WRRT, in existence since 2001, is a government law enforcement unit cracking down on the illegal wildlife trade throughout Cambodia. The WRRT is composed of four Forestry Administration officers and seven Military Police, assisted by one Wildlife Alliance Advisor. The WRRT conducts inspections and raids, processes crime scenes, secures evidence, arrests traders, and submits case documentation to the courts for prosecution. The team also identifies wildlife species at the crime scene, provides first aid, and transports injured wildlife to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, or releases healthy animals back into appropriate habitats. Since its creation, WRRT has rescued 43,463 live animals and confiscated 7.46 tons of wildlife meat, 21,062 dead animals, and 200 tons of pelts, bones, and products made from wildlife. Wildlife Alliance provides technical assistance and financial support to the WRRT with funding from international donors including the Wallace Research Foundation, the David Bohnett Foundation, the John Aspinall Foundation, and generous individuals around the world. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund supported the launch of the CWCU and implementation of ASEAN-WEN in Cambodia.

About ASEAN-WEN (www.asean-wen.org):

ASEAN-WEN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Wildlife Enforcement Network. It involves environmental, law enforcement and Customs agencies in all 10 ASEAN countries and facilitates cross-border collaboration in the fight against illegal wildlife trade in the region.

About FREELAND Foundation (www.freeland.org):

FREELAND is an international organization dedicated to ending the illegal wildlife trade, conserving natural habitats and protecting human rights. FREELAND works throughout Asia, raising public awareness and building local capacity to protect critical ecosystems, wildlife and human rights. FREELAND is the lead implementing partner of the U.S. Support Program for the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), a program that provides investigative assistance, training and other capacity building support to Southeast Asian authorities tasked with stopping illegal wildlife trade – a major threat to biodiversity.

About USAID (www.usaid.gov/rdma/):

USAID is the United States Agency for International Development. It has been the principal U.S. agency extending assistance worldwide since 1961. The USAID Mission to Cambodia is working to improve the lives of the people of Cambodia, particularly the poor in rural areas. It also supports progress on a range of environmental issues. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia, based in Bangkok, supports programs addressing problems that cross national boundaries, such as human and wildlife trafficking, HIV/AIDS, natural resources conservation, trade, and political and economic conflict. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia is supporting the development of ASEAN-WEN.

About CEPF (www.cepf.net):

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.