FREELAND helps Thai Police Nab Two Suspected International Ivory Traffickers

Illegal African ivory trade drives poaching of wild elephants

The Royal Thai Police announced the arrest of two Thai nationals on November 16 on suspicion of illegally trading African ivory after a tip-off by U.S. authorities. Their capture followed a year-long joint Thai-U.S. investigation supported by FREELAND Foundation and the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).

The alleged crime, which spanned three continents, indicates Asia is an evolving international transit point, not just a source, for illegal trade in endangered species and their derivatives. More than 10 metric tons of endangered African elephant ivory has been seized in Southeast Asia over the last year, but no traffickers had been caught until the arrests in Bangkok.

This joint Thai-U.S. law enforcement success underlines the importance of international cooperation to tackle illegal wildlife trade through networks such as the ASEAN-WEN. More than 180 print and online news publications around the world, including the Washington Post covered the arrests.

FREELAND and United Nations Expose Environmental Crimes

FREELAND’s TV Commercial on display at the ARPEC exhibition to raise awareness about environmental crimes

With the need to bring the problem of environmental crime to public attention, FREELAND joined government and non-governmental organizations to help launch awareness activities running parallel the 8th Asian Regional Partners Forum on Combating Environmental Crime (ARPEC) Meeting (November 17-18) in Bangkok, Thailand. A public exhibition and video installation at the Emporium Mall presented overview of how environmental crimes, including illegal trade in wildlife, illegal logging and illegal traffic of hazardous waste affect the people’s livelihoods, the global economy as well as the world’s ecosystems.

Information about FREELAND, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and a public service announcement were on display until November 23. FREELAND is pleased to have joined the Asian Regional Partners Forum on Combating Environmental Crime (ARPEC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other stakeholders in supporting this event.

Replicating Best-Practice Forest Protection Across Southeast Asia

Rangers study patrol formation for hostile encounters

FREELAND delivered a “Demonstration Enforcement Ranger Basic Training Course” in counter-poaching operations for 20 Thai forest rangers at Nature Protection Training Center, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, during November 9-22, 2009. Observed by senior forest protection officials from the nine other ASEAN member states, the rangers practiced field training in navigation, patrols, reconnaissance, hostile engagement drills, raids, takedowns, arrest, search, crime scene processing, and other techniques used in effective forest protection.

Jointly organized by the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and FREELAND Foundation, the groundbreaking course and following workshop for ASEAN forest protection officers will guide standardization and replication of forest law enforcement capacity building utilizing ACB’s competency standards for protected area jobs across the region.
The training course is hosted by Thailand’s Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and jointly funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and DNP.

Wildlife Campaign Replicated in Laos

Banners on display at Aranyaprathet Customs’s check-point on the Thai-Cambodian border

FREELAND Foundation joined the Lao Wildlife Trade Working Group to replicate the “Sold Out” Campaign to promote wildlife conservation and prevent illegal trade in Laos. The new campaign was launched by the Lao National Department of Forest Inspection and the Division of Forest Resources Conservation, together with 16 other partners including FREELAND, on November 27, 2009 in Vientiane, to coincide with the 25th South East Asian Games.

FREELAND’s “Sold Out” campaign expanded nationally early this year, covering Thailand’s customs checkpoints. It’s replication in Laos with the support of so many stakeholders represents an important step for building public awareness of the existence and impacts of illegal wildlife trade. Preserving the message “Every time you buy, nature pays”, the Lao campaign is directed at citizens and visitors to Laos, reminding them that they can help protect the region’s wildlife by refusing to buy, sell or consume wildlife products. FREELAND hopes to expand and replicate these campaigns further in Southeast Asia to help instigate a united community effort to end wildlife crime.

Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop Kicks Off Encouraging Cooperation

Wild tigers are on the brink of extinction - illegal wildlife trade is a primary threat

Funded by USAID, FREELAND attended the four-day Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop during October 27-30, 2009. Over 200 participants from more than 20 tiger range countries agreed to intensify regional cooperation for better management and enforcement to achieve effective conservation of wild tigers globally, agreeing that collective political commitment from all levels of governments is the most important action required to halt the rapid decline of the species.

Participants endorsed efforts to implement the "Pattaya Manifesto on Combating Wildlife Crime in Asia" and the newly agreed "Kathmandu Recommendations", which include strengthening and sustaining the ASEAN-WEN and replicating its cooperative capacity building in South Asia.

The gathering also suggested celebrating 2010 as the “Year of the Tiger” throughout the world. The Kathmandu Recommendations and national tiger conservation action plans will be reviewed at a conference of forest and environment ministers from Asian countries scheduled for January 2010 in Thailand.

Highlighting the Illegal Wildlife Trade Threat to Southeast Asia’s Biodiversity

Seamas McCaffrey explains FREELAND’s activities against illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia

FREELAND helped shine a spotlight on illegal wildlife trade and ASEAN’s response at the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2009, held in Singapore during October 21-23, 2009. Titled “Biodiversity in Focus: 2010 and Beyond”, the conference allowed a fresh exchange of information and perspectives on biodiversity issues in the region and efforts to address the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional, and national levels. Hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the National Parks Board of Singapore, the event attracted around 250 leaders from the academic, research and scientific communities, as well as government officials, intergovernmental groups and policy makers.

As lead implementing partner of the ASEAN-WEN Support Program, FREELAND staff set up an exhibition booth featuring ASEAN-WEN Public Service Announcement videos and striking banners from Thailand’s “Wildlife Trafficking Stops Here” campaign, together with information about the work and achievements of ASEAN-WEN. The conference proved an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with other NGOs and high-level delegates to ensure they remain aware of the threat illegal wildlife trade poses to Southeast Asia’s biodiversity and communicate how the ASEAN-WEN operates as a mechanism to help fight wildlife crime.