USAID Wildlife Asia joined round table discussion on evolving strategies for combating wildlife crime

USAID Wildlife Asia joined round table discussion on evolving strategies for combating wildlife crime
On Friday June 23, Washington - RTI International hosted a round table discussion of Evolving Strategies for Combating Wildlife Crime: Perspectives for Source-Transit-Destination Solutions from Africa to Asia. The discussion touched upon emerging issues in countering wildlife crime, and drew on perspectives and successes from USAID Tanzania PROTECT and USAID Wildlife Asia projects.

Illegal trade in wildlife products is valued up to $20 billion annually. A cross-section of governments, donors, non-profit organizations, and alliances around the world have developed creative and evolving strategies for combating wildlife trafficking. During the panel discussion, around 100 participants from various US government agencies, World bank, GEF, and others, heard from USAID as well as key RTI staff members and partners leading two major USAID-funded projects in African and Asia source, transit, and destination countries in Tanzania, Southeast Asia and China. Presentations were followed by lively discussions, with many questions raised from the audience.

Panelists were Jedsada Taweekan, Regional Environment Office, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA); Jeremy Swanson, Wildlife Trafficking Specialist, Tanzania; Robert Mather, Chief of Party, USAID Wildlife Asia Project; and Grace Gabriel, Asia Regional Director, International Fund for Animal Welfare. The panel was facilitated by Barbara Rossmiller of RTI - Copyright: RTI International