According to recent reports in the Indian press, an agreement has finally been reached to set up the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Broadly based on a similar outfit in South-East Asia, the idea of SAWEN is to provide an additional mechanism for cooperation between the countries of South Asia in combating wildlife crime. The organisation will also provide a focal point for international cooperation in the region and possibly training for law enforcement officers in wildlife crime.
The World Bank is reportedly providing $250,000 in seed money to get things rolling, and even the Indian government, which has been a bit ambivalent about it seems to giving the project the nod.
So will SAWEN be a good thing? Well, it could be. If it helps international cooperation then great, but given that the existing methods of communication (Interpol for example) are so underused, we shouldn’t hold our breath. Training is good too, but is hardly revolutionary, so if they do that it will need to be professional, focused and implemented. Perhaps one of the main things which SAWEN can do is provide a higher public profile for wildlife crime in the region, as this is an area of crime which badly needs the attention.
Countries taking part in SAWEN will be drawn from the regional body SAARC, which includes: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Maldives.
Year of the Tiger 2010 