Environmental Law Enforcement and Governance

DOI-ITAP works with other countries to help strengthen environmental law enforcement, including those related to counter wildlife trafficking (CWT), protected areas, CITES, and others. Below are selected examples of DOI-ITAP's recent programs!

RECENT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Combatting Wildlife Trafficking in Cooperation with Fish & Wildlife Service (Global) 

DOI-ITAP combats global wildlife trafficking by leveraging the leadership and technical expertise of subject matter experts within DOI’s Fish and Wildlife Service – Office of Law Enforcement. 

With support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, DOI-ITAP provides targeted trainings on wildlife law enforcement, investigating wildlife crimes, and regulating wildlife trade to regional counterparts in Latin America and Asia.  

Participating wildlife officers not only develop new skills, but by sharing experiences with international counterparts and building lasting professional relationships, become stronger and more empowered wildlife conservation partners. 

Protected Area Management in the Selva Maya (Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico)

The Selva Maya, or Maya Jungle region, spans Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, and is home to diverse wildlife and hundreds of ancient Maya cities. 

DOI-ITAP works with in-country partners and DOI specialists to strengthen protected area management, environmental governance, and local community empowerment in the region, bolstering cross-border collaboration. 

DOI-ITAP engages local communities in conservation efforts through initiatives such as voluntarily setting community lands aside for conservation, promoting community-based tourism, and empowering Indigenous women and youth as conservation leaders. 

With support from USAID Guatemala, DOI-ITAP and its partners have contributed to recovery of forest cover, successful prosecution of environmental crimes, wildfire prevention, protection of archaeological sites, and combating wildlife trafficking. 

PREVIOUS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: 

Strengthening Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement in Central and South America (Brazil, Belize, Dominican Republic)

The Wildlife Officer/Inspector Exchange (WOE/WIE) Program facilitated job shadowing exchanges between U.S. and overseas law enforcement personnel from Brazil, Belize, and Dominican Republic. DOI-ITAP worked closely with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement on these exchanges, matching candidates from qualifying conservation law enforcement leadership programs. 

With support from the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), this project aimed to strengthen enforcement, reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife, and expand international cooperation through capacity building sessions, collaboration, and by creating lasting professional relationships between international counterparts. 

Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Through the Central American Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAWEN)

DOI-ITAP builds capacity to implement and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), counter wildlife trafficking at national and regional levels, and analyze data and information for sound government decision-making. Activities are tied to training, operational, and outreach efforts of the Central American and Dominican Republic Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAWEN, or ROAVIS in Spanish), which DOI-ITAP helped found and technically assist.

DOI-ITAP accomplished this work with the support of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Supporting Biodiversity Conservation in Chile

DOI-ITAP strengthened biodiversity conservation through sound management of protected areas, improving implementation and enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and combating wildlife trafficking throughout the investigative and judicial chain of government. These activities were complemented through visitor interpretation and youth engagement and education events, and supported by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Wildlife Crime Scene Investigation in East Africa

DOI-ITAP increased capacity within law enforcement personnel in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda on wildlife crime scene investigations.

DOI-ITAP received support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya and USAID East Africa.

Counter Wildlife Trafficking (CWT) Assessments in Southeast Asia

DOI-ITAP completed country-specific countering wildlife trafficking assessments in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh to inform the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Country Strategic Plans.

DOI-ITAP received support from USAID Regional Development Mission Asia (RDMA).

Philippines Supreme Court Adopted New Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases

DOI-ITAP advised Supreme Court Justices in the Philippines on U.S. best practices to help draft new rules to strengthen environmental law enforcement.

DOI-ITAP received support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines.

END Act Strategy Development 

In accordance with the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act (END Act), the U.S. Embassy in Kenya developed an interagency mission strategy to combat wildlife trafficking there. In support of this effort, two DOI technical consultants contributed to a thorough and robust strategy that will inform the future work of DOI-ITAP in Kenya as well as that of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on best practices to help draft these new rules to strengthen environmental law enforcement.

DOI-ITAP received support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya.

Supporting Civil Society Organizations in Kenya

DOI-ITAP assisted local organizations to support their work in addressing the local drivers of poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

DOI-ITAP received support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya.

Scientific Cooperation in Kenya's Northern Rangelands

DOI-ITAP supported technical specialists working with counterparts in Kenya to create databases, utilize historical records, and design models to inform decision-making in Kenya's Northern Rangelands.

DOI-ITAP received support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya.

FACTSHEETS & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Countering Wildlife Trafficking Worldwide Factsheet  

East Africa

• Making News: Two-Week Exchange Program

  DOI-ITAP's Wildlife Officials Exchange in partnership with U.S. State Department International Narcotics and Law Enforcement and U.S. FWS Office of Law Enforcement Branch of Training and Inspections conducted a two-week wildlife officials exchange program where five wildlife officers from Africa were paired with five officers from U.S. State Fish and Game Departments.

• Making News:  Increasing Media Coverage of Conservation and Wildlife Issues

  Combatting wildlife trafficking and human and wildlife conflicts in East Africa through increasing media coverage. Find the Internews article here that features the new two-year DOI-ITAP and USAID supported project 'Increasing East African Media  Coverage of Conservation and Wildlife Issues'.

Asia & Pacific Islands

• Making News: Wildlife Forensics in the Philippines

  Wildlife forensics in the Philippines through DOI-ITAP's Partnership for Biodiversity Conservation (PBC) makes the news!