South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and Himalayan Nature (HN) have formalized a partnership through two separate agreements, signed on 08 October 2024 and 22 October 2024, to implement activities under ZSL’s Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund project titled “Combating IWT: Strengthening Partnerships and Promoting Resiliency of Local Communities.” As part of the agreement, two key activities are being conducted with the aim of enhancing the regional response to illegal wildlife trade:

1. Capacity Building for Law Enforcement Agencies
A training program on Wildlife Crime Investigation to Prosecution will be organized for law enforcement officials. It will focus on various aspects of wildlife crime, including investigation techniques, trafficking networks, and the role of agencies in prevention.

2. Supply Chain Analysis of Illegal Wildlife Commodities
A comprehensive study will be undertaken to map and analyze the supply chains of illegal wildlife commodities among SAWEN member countries. The study aims to identify key nodes, routes, actors, and vulnerabilities within trafficking networks, and will produce a report to inform strategic interventions and regional policy development.

This collaboration reflects SAWEN’s continued commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, building capacity, and generating actionable knowledge to combat wildlife crime.