Strengthening Regional Wildlife Law Enforcement: LATF and IFAW Host High-Impact Training Workshop
Lusaka, Zambia – January 2025; The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) Zambia and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), successfully convened a Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on Digital Forensics and the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) Application. Held at Sandy’s Creations Resort from 20th to 24th January 2025, the five-day training brought together 23 participants, including law enforcement officers from Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. The workshop, which was facilitated by experts from LATF, DNPW, IFAW, Esri Global, and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute of Kenya (WRTI), aimed at bolstering capacity in evidence/data collection and analysis techniques and information management for combating wildlife and forest crime.
Group photo of the Chief Guest and training participants
Wildlife crime continues to be a challenge across Africa, with organized criminal networks increasingly exploiting digital platforms and weak enforcement mechanisms. To address this, LATF and IFAW designed this specialized training program focusing on digital forensics and the WEMS platform to enhance regional coordination, intelligence sharing, and operational effectiveness in tackling illegal wildlife trade and forest crimes.
The workshop provided participants with hands-on training in digital forensics, enabling them to track illicit financial transactions, communication records, GPS data, and digital evidence linked to wildlife trafficking networks. Additionally, the WEMS platform, being implemented by LATF, was introduced as a data-driven tool for real-time monitoring and cross-border intelligence sharing, significantly improving enforcement capabilities across Lusaka Agreement member states.
Workshop participants following proceedings
The Director of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in Zambia, Mr. Dominic Chiinda, presided as the Chief Guest and officially opened the workshop, emphasizing that hosting the Digital and DNA Forensics, along with the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) Application training in Zambia, reflects the country’s strong commitment to combating wildlife crime through regional collaboration and technological innovation.
“By advancing digital forensics and WEMS applications, we are strengthening our enforcement capabilities to combat organized wildlife crime. The devastating consequences of wildlife trafficking (corruption, violence, and instability) demand urgent and coordinated action,” he stated. The Director DNPW further reiterated that “through international cooperation and advanced enforcement tools, we are determined to dismantle illicit networks and safeguard our natural heritage.”
Speaking on the significance of the training, the LATF Director Edward Phiri emphasized the urgency of equipping officers with modern tools to combat wildlife crime effectively, he stated:
“Wildlife crime continues to evolve, demanding innovative responses. This workshop is a milestone in enhancing regional cooperation and leveraging technology to outpace criminal syndicates engaged in wildlife trafficking.”
IFAW has been a key partner to LATF in advancing regional enforcement capabilities through technology-driven solutions. Mr. James Isiche, Regional Director of IFAW, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies. “Collaboration is the cornerstone of wildlife conservation. By integrating digital forensics and real-time data management, we empower enforcement agencies to dismantle criminal networks and protect Africa’s biodiversity more effectively”, he said.
The WEMS application and its integration of digital tools in wildlife law enforcement were key highlights of the training. Carl Beck, National Security Business Development Executive at Esri Middle East, Dubai, emphasized the transformative role of Esri technology in combating wildlife crime and observed that:
“Incorporating advanced geospatial analytics powered by Esri’s ArcGIS platform and digital forensics into enforcement strategies is a game-changer. The WEMS system, built on ArcGIS Online, provides officers with real-time insights, enabling them to track and disrupt illicit wildlife trade networks with unprecedented efficiency. This training ensures that officers can fully leverage Esri’s cutting-edge geospatial solutions to strengthen wildlife law enforcement.”
The workshop concluded with a strategic action plan, outlining priority areas for continued capacity building, enhanced regional cooperation, and the adoption of WEMS as a standard data-sharing tool among participating nations. Officers gained practical skills in utilizing WEMS for data analysis and intelligence-sharing, digital evidence collection and forensic investigation techniques, Cross-border cooperation in combating transnational wildlife crime and undertaking targeted regional enforcement operations
The issuance of certificates to trained officers marked a key milestone, signifying their readiness to implement the knowledge acquired in their respective enforcement roles.
As LATF continues to spearhead efforts in establishing a Regional Information Command Centre, this initiative signifies a major advancement towards a more secure and technology-driven approach to wildlife law enforcement.
LATF extends its sincere appreciation to IFAW, Esri Global and WRTI for their invaluable support and collaboration in ensuring the success of this workshop. Their dedication to strengthening regional enforcement capacity through technology and data-driven solutions has been instrumental in advancing the fight against wildlife crime.
We also express our gratitude to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) Zambia for its exceptional hospitality and hosting this important event. Through sustained partnerships, we can collectively enhance our efforts to protect Africa’s biodiversity and dismantle transnational criminal networks.
