South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in cooperation with the Government of Nepal and in collaboration with WWF Nepal, WWF Bhutan, TRAFFIC India and with financial support from INL USA organized three days’ workshop from 27 to 29 December 2023 in Dhulikhel, Nepal. UNEP and UNODC were also the part of the programme. Major aim of the workshop was to understand wildlife crime justice system in South Asia and beyond along with sharing of good practices, acquaint with cross border wildlife (fauna and flora) related crimes including its alignment with corruption and money laundering.

An inaugural programme was organized amid a presence of honorable justices, prosecutors and investigators from the five SAWEN member countries; resource persons; and representatives of support organizations. The chief guest of the inaugural programme Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal, secretary of Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal recognized the richness of biodiversity in Nepal and its importance for the country's economy and well-being of the people. Dr. Kharal, however, also recalled the wildlife crime as one of the eminent threats for biodiversity conservation and invited to act for broader environmental crime. Chair of the opening session, Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, chief enforcement coordinator (CEC) of SAWEN and director general (DG) of department of national parks wildlife conservation (DNPWC), Nepal expressed sincere thanks to the member countries for their commitment in SAWEN and participation in SAWEN organized programmes. Reflecting the wider participation of justices, prosecutors and investigators, Dr. Dhungana requested to share the knowledge from them and gain from others during the workshop. He voiced for the SAWEN as an excellent regional platform which provides numerous opportunities in combating wildlife crime in the region and beyond. Mr. Ajay Karki, SAWEN focal person of Nepal and deputy DG of DNPWC welcomed the participants as well as invitees and reflected the workshop’s motive that would widen the understanding of wildlife crime, improve enforcement mechanisms and entrust that wildlife criminals face the full force of the law. Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, country representative of WWF Nepal recalled the success of doubling the tiger number by South Asia and wished for South Asia as “Zero Transit” region along with strengthened SAWEN in future. Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai, senior environment officer of SAWEN highlighted the workshop objectives and facilitated the programme.

More than 15 judges/justices and prosecutors from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka took part in the workshop. Participants shared laws and legal system of respective countries and discussed about progress made since 2017 reflecting the prior study carried out SAWEN by reviewing laws and policies, prosecution and adjudication practices in the SAWEN member countries. Perspectives of investigators, prosecutors and judge/justices have been discussed and found pertinent issues and challenges in all the three regimes. With the input of resource persons, different subject matters were floored including but not limited to regional wildlife crime scenario; an overview of the legal framework, policy and legal cooperation in the ASEAN region; fundamentals of CITES with reference to South Asia; key elements of UNTOC. In addition, environmental justice and harmonization and standardization of laws/policies; money laundering linking with wildlife crime were also the covered areas. Ms. Sallie Yang, Programme Officer, Law Division of UNEP; Chris Howard, U.S. Embassy, Bangladesh; Nigel Povoas KC, consultant of UNODC were among the facilitators. 

As the key note speaker of the workshop, honourable Mrs. Sapana Pradhan Malla, justice of the Supreme court of Nepal, addressed the participants and drew the attention of stakeholders for the urgency of harmonization and standardization of laws and policies linking with environmental justice in South Asia. Honourable justice reflected the global good practices to address the environmental crime and essence of courts’ adjudication to achieve some notable milestones in nature conservation along with positive outcomes for human wellbeing.

In the brief informal closing session, representatives of each member country recalled their experience of the workshop relating with routine responsibilities together with discussed matters in the workshop. Similarly, they elaborated on the prospects of future cooperation and collaboration by the regional intergovernmental body like SAWEN in coordination with similar organizations and requested for the continuation of transborder activities in coming days. Concluding the programme, Mr. Karki opined for the requirement of sustained efforts and continued collaboration; and further invited to strengthen the networks with information sharing and enhanced cooperation across borders. Resource persons, representatives of support organizations put their views and declared their commitment for future endeavours.