June 30,2013, Kathmandu, Nepal

The website of South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) was launched today in its secretariat based in Kathmandu at Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Government of Nepal. Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal launched the website during a ceremony organized here in the secretariat. Speaking at the programme, Dr Joshi said, “I am honored to launch this important website which in itself is a great achievement for SAWEN, so this platform should be used at its best to further strengthen our cooperation and collaboration among member countries and partners globally to fight against wildlife crime.” Demo of the website (www.sawen.org) was presented during the meeting of the member countries in Srilanka last year and as agreed with some inputs, the final website was prepared and launched by the secretariat today. “SAWEN Secretariat would like to thank the member countries for their active participation to strengthen this institution and we are confident that this website will act as common platform for us to be engaged more actively,” said Mr Megh Bahadur Pandey, Chief Enforcement Coordinator of SAWEN and Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Government of Nepal. The ceremony was participated by high level officials from various law enforcement agencies of Government of Nepal and conservation partners. Mr Pandey thanked all of the participants as well as various conservation partners in Nepal and across the globe for their generous support to strengthen SAWEN.