Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 7 • Number 10 • 25th May 2007

Asian Nations Toughen Stance on Wildlife Smuggling

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Wildlife officials from ten Southeast Asian nations have agreed on measures to crack down on illegal trade in wildlife, a multibillion dollar industry that has deep roots in the region.

The meeting of the Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN) — established under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — was held in Bogor, Indonesia from 22-23 May and brought together government officials, conservation experts, customs officers, and representatives from civil society.

Participants agreed to work to raise public awareness of the issue, provide better training for law enforcement officers, and increase communication among countries in the region and with international enforcement bodies such as Interpol.

Participants also discussed ways to finance the network, which currently receives the bulk of its funding from the US Agency for International Development.

The Bogor gathering was the second meeting of the network, which was launched 18 months ago by the ASEAN in an effort to combat illegal trade in a wide variety of flora and fauna, ranging from orchids and medicinal herbs to elephants, tigers, songbirds, snakes, and marine animals.

Such species are threatened by a vast network of wildlife smuggling rings that deliver exotic pets to the Middle East, Japan, Europe, and the US, and that supply customers in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong with the ingredients for traditional meals and medicinal remedies.

Conservationists claim that trade in threatened wildlife has increased in recent years and that the growth in smuggling goes hand in hand with rampant illegal logging in the region.

“Asia: nations combat animal trafficking,” AP, 24 May 2007; “Indonesia seeks deal on wildlife,” BBC NEWS, 24 May 2007; “ASEAN launches the ASEAN wildlife law enforcement network,” ASEAN PRESS RELEASE, 1 December 2005; “Indonesia to host 2nd ASEAN wildlife WEN conference,” ANTARA NEWS, 16 May 2007.