Staff Correspondent

Member states of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) have unanimously adopted the landmark "Kathmandu Declaration" to strengthen regional cooperation against illegal wildlife trade and associated transnational organized crime across South Asia.

Ministers and heads of delegations adopted the declaration on Friday at the conclusion of SAWEN's First General Assembly held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The declaration reaffirms the commitment of member nations to prevent, detect, and suppress wildlife offenses while upholding the core principles and objectives of SAWEN.

Expressing deep concern over the increasing complexity of wildlife trafficking, the declaration highlighted its links to corruption, illicit financial flows, cybercrime, and cross-border vulnerabilities. To counter these threats, member states pledged to prioritize intelligence-led and financial investigations, anti-money laundering mechanisms, asset recovery, and robust judicial processes.

The declaration further emphasizes the application of science, technology, geospatial tools, and regional research sharing to combat wildlife crime and biopiracy. Member nations committed to building the operational capacity and safety of front-line personnel, including park rangers, customs officials, police, and prosecutors.

Addressing the closing session, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo said, no single nation can combat organized wildlife crime alone. He stressed that as trafficking networks cross national borders using digital tools, law enforcement responses must similarly be synchronized across boundaries through timely intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and targeted financial inquiries.

The Kathmandu Declaration outlines plans to engage local communities, civil society, youth, and the private sector—including transport, logistics, e-commerce, and tourism industries—to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products. The assembly also officially designated January 30 as "SAWEN Day" to be observed annually across the region.