How Africa’s Emerging Sub-regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) and the Lusaka Agreement Task Force can Collectively Combat International Wildlife Trafficking.
Wildlife trafficking between Africa and Asia is brisk, resulting in the ongoing decimation of many species. Criminal syndicates are feeding a continuing demand in Asia for ivory, rhino horn, big cat bones and body parts of other rare and endangered species such as pangolins, by sourcing their supply increasingly fromAfrica. We need a stronger counter wildlife trafficking (CWT) response in the region. As conservationists and law enforcement organizations study ways to solve this problem, it is worth considering the existing CWT mechanisms within Africa and between Africa and Asia. Strengthening and streamlining these mechanisms – including the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) and existing and emerging Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) – appears to present the quickest, strongest, and most sustainable solution.