BALI, INDONESIA (November 28th 2011) - Yesterday, delegations from Indonesia and Viet Nam concluded a three-day bilateral meeting, strengthening the regional effort to stop the criminal networks behind the international trade of endangered species.  The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry hosted the meeting, with support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program. The meeting contributes to the larger regional goals of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).

“This collaboration is an excellent start in realizing our joint commitment to tackle crimes against plants and wildlife, and especially in tackling wildlife trafficking syndicates in SE Asia,” said Director General Darori of the Indonesian Forest Protection and Nature Conservation, Ministry of Forestry.

The event was the second such meeting; the delegations first met in Viet Nam in 2010. This time around, the delegations included forestry, police, customs and CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) officials from both countries.

The two sides agreed to a number of unprecedented steps to jointly stop the trade of wildlife between the two countries, including official collaboration and creation of a joint strategic plan for activities of mutual interest on law enforcement, communications, and public outreach. The meeting also strengthened communication channels between officials of the two countries, enabling proactive cross border investigations into illicit wildlife criminal syndicates.

The global black market in endangered wildlife is estimated at US$10 billion-US$30 billion annually. Indonesia is a major source country for this trade, while Viet Nam is both a source and destination point for many species. Poaching, illegal logging and the illegal wildlife trade threatens the survival of many of the Indonesia’s most endangered species including tigers, rhinos, birds and primates.