KATHMANDU: South Asian countries have pledged to intensify regional efforts against illegal wildlife trade by strengthening intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement, financial investigations and criminal justice cooperation.
In the Kathmandu Declaration adopted on Friday at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), an intergovernmental organisation of South Asian countries, held in Kathmandu from Thursday to Friday, member countries vowed to disrupt organised criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking.
The eight SAWEN member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
According to the Kathmandu Declaration, member countries recognise illegal wildlife trade as an increasingly sophisticated form of transnational organised crime, noting its growing links with corruption, illicit financial flows and other serious crimes.
It also expresses concern over the exploitation of digital technologies and porous borders by wildlife traffickers and the increasing illegal trade in live wild animals, in addition to wildlife parts and derivatives.
Member countries have committed to using intelligence-led and financial investigations, anti-money laundering measures, asset recovery and effective prosecution to tackle serious wildlife crimes, particularly those involving organised criminal groups operating across national borders.
The declaration calls for increased cooperation in science, technology, innovation, research and regional knowledge sharing to address wildlife crime, biopiracy, illegal access to biological resources and emerging threats.
The assembly decided to observe Jan. 30 every year as SAWEN Day. The member countries also adopted the SAWEN Implementation Plan 2026-2030 and endorsed a three-year work program and budget. - Xinhua
