US Government Supports Protection of Endangered Species in Cambodia
Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh
October 19, 2006  |
| Presentation of the ASEAN-WEN Project Support Team findings Full Size |
ASEAN stepped up its efforts in the enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and other legislation for wildlife protection with the launch of the ASEAN Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) on December 1, 2005 in Bangkok with funding from the U.S. government. ASEAN-WEN is an integrated network among law enforcement agencies, and membership of the network is open to officials from CITES authorities, customs, the police, prosecutors, specialized governmental wildlife-law enforcement organizations and other relevant law enforcement agencies. The network is expected to deliver an effective coordination and information sharing mechanism among the law enforcement agencies at national and regional levels in the fight against the illicit harvesting of and transnational trade in wild fauna and flora.
To support the governments of ASEAN member countries in operationalizing the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, USAID is funding the ASEAN-WEN Support Project Team. The overall goal in these efforts is two-tiered: to increase inter-agency co-operation at national and international levels; and to increase the efficiency of CITES implementation and law enforcement to mitigate illegal and unsustainable trade in wild animals and plants. The project is being jointly implemented by WildAid and TRAFFIC.
ASEAN countries gave authorization for the Support Project Team to conduct a series of meetings and surveys in selected ASEAN government departments. In Cambodia, the Project Team surveyed the Forestry Administration, the Anti-Economic Crime Police Department, CITES MA Cambodia, the Customs and Excise Department, the Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia and the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team.
The Team was tasked with the following:
Identifying constraints and/or deficiencies of enforcement in relation to nature crimes of the selected departments;
Making recommendations to the selected departments on options to address constraints or deficiencies; and
Providing recommendations on enhancing the operational effectiveness of departmental personnel by way of training.
The ASEAN-WEN Support Project Team recently presented their report findings and recommendations to senior leadership of all relevant Cambodian Ministries and Departments as well as interested NGOs. During the meeting, USAID/Cambodia Acting Mission Director Joan Silver delivered opening remarks stressing the importance of protecting Cambodia's endangered plants and animals. In her remarks, Ms. Silver stated, "Once endangered animals such as tigers, bears, monkeys and birds disappear from the forests; once wild orchids and other plants are gone; they are gone forever and can never be replaced. With this loss, we lose a kind of beauty that no human can create, and we lose something of our spirit because something of life is lost forever. More practically, the loss of wildlife and flora leads to the loss of ecosystems over time, and impacts negatively on human health and food security."
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