The South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) successfully organized the Regional Zero Poaching Workshop and its 11th Executive Committee Meeting in Paro, Bhutan, in June 2024. These two events have helped in strengthening regional cooperation against wildlife crime and bolstering the enforcement capacity of SAWEN member countries.

Regional Zero Poaching Workshop 

The Regional Zero Poaching Workshop, organized from 11 to 13 June 2024, brought together 36 officials representing all eight SAWEN member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The workshop provided a platform for member countries to share progress and experiences related to the Zero Poaching Framework. Discussions focused on refining the framework, exploring opportunities for its institutionalization, and contributing to the broader global review process. The workshop was a key step in improving regional enforcement efforts and highlighting South Asia’s commitment to achieving zero poaching of priority species.

Eleventh Executive Committee Meeting 

Following the completion of zero poaching workshop, the 11th Executive Committee (EC) Meeting of SAWEN was held on 13 June 2024 in Paro, Bhutan. The meeting brought together SAWEN Executive Committee members to deliberate on key governance issues, institutional strengthening, and future strategic direction.

A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to convene the SAWEN General Assembly in 2025 in Nepal. The General Assembly is expected to reinforce the Network’s governance and fortify intergovernmental coordination in combating transboundary wildlife crime.

Both the workshop and the EC meeting were jointly organized by SAWEN in collaboration with WWF Bhutan, WWF Nepal, and TRAFFIC India, with the support of key conservation partners. These events reflect SAWEN’s ongoing commitment to fostering collaborative action, sharing expertise, and leading regional efforts to end illegal wildlife trade and poaching.