DENR CALABARZON participates in the 17th AWG on CITES and WE

As elected, Philippines serves as the chairperson of the AWG on CITES and WE while Singapore acts as the vice-chair.

The meeting covers topics such as the Implementation of Policy Framework related to ASEAN Cooperation in Forestry, CITES, and Wildlife Enforcement, updates in Combating Wildlife and Timber Trafficking, Action Plan Development at Regional Level by Thailand, Country Progress Reports on Wildlife Enforcement, Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement, Strategy for Preventing Zoonotic Diseases Transmission from Wildlife Trade, and Policy Brief on Prevention of Zoonotic Diseases from Illegal Wildlife Trade through a One Health Approach.

 

The AWG on CITES and WE was organized in 2016 priming to continue the role of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and the ASEAN Experts Group on CITES (AEG-CITES). ASEAN-WEN is a regional inter-agency and inter-governmental initiative to combat illegal cross-border trade in endangered flora and fauna. On the other hand, AEG-CITES was adopted in 2004 as a commitment of ASEAN Member States to cooperate on improved implementation of CITES, including the enforcement of the Convention.

 

Philippines is one of the first five ASEAN Member States to establish a national task force on wildlife enforcement starting from the National Anti-Environment Crime Task Force which operated from 2004-2008, Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade (POGI) in 2013, Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) in 2019, and the Environmental Law Enforcement ad Protection Service (ELEPS) in 2021.

 

DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria is a participant in this meeting, he is also former EPETF Executive Director. ###