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Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs)

What are Wildlife Enforcement Networks?

Regional and inter-regional cooperation is essential to combating wildlife trafficking effectively.

A number of networks with different purposes and objectives focused on combating wildlife crime, and with varying degrees of formality and organization, have been developed across the world. In most cases these networks are known as Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs). These WENs, if functioning optimally, can play an important role in facilitating increased collaboration and coordination to combat wildlife crime.

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ICCWC Guidelines for Wildlife Enforcement Networks 

The ICCWC Guidelines for Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) outline the key considerations in the development of a new WEN, and also provide a self-assessment tool for use by existing WENs to assist them in evaluating their level of maturity and/or operational performance and identify areas that could be further strengthened. 

 The Guidelines consist of two separate parts:

• Guideline 1 – Establishing a new WEN

• Guideline 2 – Strengthening an existing WEN The WEN

The Guidelines are designed to complement the ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit and ICCWC Indicator Framework for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime. 

ICCWC Guidelines for WENs are available in English, French and Spanish
A brochure is available here

 

 

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The WEN Concept

 

Global Meetings of Wildlife Enforcement Networks

ICCWC has convened a number of Global meetings of WENs to share experiences and consider measures to further strengthen WENs, promote their operational effectiveness, and enhance cooperation and interaction. These meetings bring together representatives from established and developing networks from around the world, including wildlife law enforcement officers, international organizations and other relevant organizations. 

  • 4th Global Meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks
    This meeting was held alongside the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES in Panama City, Panama (November 2022). 
    Find all information and resources related to the meeting here.
    Read the full report here
     
  • 3rd Global Meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks
    This meeting was held alongside the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18) to CITES in Geneva, Switzerland (August 2019).
    Find all information and resources related to the meeting here.
    Read the full report here.
     
  • 2nd Global Meeting of the Wildlife Enforcement Networks
    This meeting was held alongside the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to CITES in Johannesburg, South Africa (September 2016).
    Read the press release here.
    Read the full report here.
     
  • 1st global meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks 
    This meeting was held alongside the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) in Bangkok, Thailand (March 2013).
    Read the press release here.
    Read the full report here.

 

Contacts and Information 

Directory of network focal points

Directories of wildlife enforcement network focal points can be found here.

Other enforcement and species specific focal points can be found here.


More information on each Wildlife Enforcement Network

Each WEN is encouraged to inform the CITES Secretariat of any changes and these will be updated as received. 

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