USAID leads collective regional action to combat wildlife trafficking

USAID leads collective regional action to combat wildlife trafficking
Participants at the CWT Regional Coordination Meeting January 12, 2023
With an increasing number of organizations working to counter wildlife trafficking (CWT) in Southeast Asia, there is a need for better coordination to prevent overlap and amplify impact.

To leverage Thailand’s regional leadership role in CWT, USAID partnered with Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on a regional coordination meeting on January 12. Building from two previous virtual sessions in September 2021 and December 2022, the session advanced the formation of an Asia regional partner coordination platform to combat wildlife trafficking. The in-person event included over 40 representatives from governments, NGOs, civil society and other regional stakeholders, and resulted in a consolidated regional calendar of counter wildlife trafficking events and activities that improves coordination and alignment. Better coordination mechanisms, like this regional coordination platform, drive alignment and amplification of programs to end illegal wildlife trade.