USAID Wildlife Asia
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), working closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), addresses wildlife trafficking as a transnational crime through the USAID Wildlife Asia activity. The activity works to reduce consumer demand for wildlife parts and products, strengthen law enforcement skills, enhance policy, legislation and jurisprudence and improve regional action to reduce wildlife crime in Southeast Asia and China.
Elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger as well as pangolins are among the top items illegally traded worldwide, and especially in Southeast Asia and China. Transcontinental organized wildlife crime decimates wildlife populations, destroying opportunities for local community wildlife-based livelihoods, and does not contribute to national revenues. Wildlife trafficking undermines the rule of law, supports corruption and money laundering, facilitates spread of zoonotic diseases, and has links to terrorism. Click here for the more information of this initiative.
Highlights
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Feb 12, 2019 · News ItemCALL FOR APPLICATIONS: ASIA – AFRICA JOURNALIST EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Through the Asia – Africa Journalist Exchange Program (JEP), USAID Wildlife Asia and USAID PROTECT in Tanzania are looking for eligible five (5) Thai journalists from different media outlets (online, print, radio, TV, etc.) to participate in an exchange program with journalists from Tanzania. The exchange program aims to increase… -
Jan 29, 2019 · News ItemUSAID Wildlife Asia’s Wildlife Protection Law Campaign in China leverages nearly $4.4 million
On May 22, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia launched the campaign to promote the updated Wildlife Protection Law (WPL) in China on the International Day for Biological Diversity. Disseminated through videos, a wall poster and public service announcements (PSAs), by the end of September 2018 the WPL materials had leveraged around…
Upcoming Events
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Mar 24, 2019 · EventCounter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) Training Course
Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) training course is designed to help law enforcement investigators identify and disrupt transnational organized crime groups involved in wildlife trafficking. The course equips appropriate enforcement authorities with the knowledge and skills required to identify and disrupt organized, cross-border wildlife trafficking supply chains moving pangolin, elephant…
Innovations
USAID WIldlife Asia works with partners to develop a collection of tools to facilitate all the objectives. Up to now, 5 tools were developed, as follows:
- Counter Wildlife Trafficking Initiatives Reference Guide
An online version of the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Initiatives Reference Guide - SIG Wildlife Investigator App
A mobile app for iOS and Android, aimed to facilitate Special Investigator Group (SIG) in coordinating, communicating, and training. - Pangolin Species Identification Guide:
A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk:
This guide is designed to help you confidently identify the eight species of pangolin, and when possible, body parts and scales even when removed from the animal.
Resources
Featured reports and fact sheets:
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Feb 08, 2019 · FilePangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk (Lao version)
This guide is published in Lao and designed to help you confidently identify the eight species of pangolin, and when possible, body parts and scales even when removed from the animal. -
Feb 07, 2019 · FilePangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk (Indonesian)
This guide is published in Indonesian and designed to help law enforcement officers confidently identify the eight species of pangolin, and when possible, body parts and scales even when removed from the animal.
Reducing Consumer Demand
Surging demand, high prices and lucrative profits from wildlife products are driving the drastic decline in species such as elephants, rhinos, tigers and pangolins. USAID Wildlife Asia helps reduce this demand by communicating, mobilizing and advocating ways to change practices and build new social norms around the use of wildlife products.
Building Political Committment
The Supreme Court of Thailand is the key Thai government counterpart for USAID Wildlife Asia, and activities strengthen the Green Benches program, improving court rules of procedures and introducing sentencing guidelines for wildlife crimes.
Enhancing Law Enforcement
Working with Interpol, the ASEAN National Police and the ASEAN Working Group on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Wildlife Enforcement, USAID Wildlife Asia supports law enforcement collaboration in the region and brings together enforcement authorities in Asia and Africa to share intelligence on active investigations and collaborate in dismantling transcontinental trafficking syndicates.
Supporting US Government Coordination
USAID Wildlife Asia collects, synthesizes and shares information on counter wildlife trafficking efforts with U.S. agencies in the region, providing a knowledge management hub.