In a show of regional solidarity, South Asian nations reaffirmed their joint commitment to fighting the scourge of wildlife trafficking at the 12th Executive Committee Meeting of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), held yesterday at Kingsbury, in Colombo. The high-level gathering saw the participation of senior government officials, Ministers, legal experts, and conservation leaders from across the region, as well as international partners, underscoring the urgency and complexity of the crisis at hand.

The meeting served as both a symbolic and strategic milestone in South Asia’s collective efforts to dismantle wildlife crime networks that threaten the region’s rich biodiversity. The collaborative tone of the forum, hosted by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment with the support of the Environmental Foundation (EFL), highlighted the need for stronger enforcement, intelligence sharing, and regional legal alignment in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.

Dr. Krishna Prasad Acharya, Secretary General of SAWEN, speaking to The Island emphasised the importance of unified political will in combatting crimes against wildlife. “We are awaiting your guidance, incentives, and recommendations in the days to come,” he said, addressing a room of regional leaders and enforcement heads. “Your insight and leadership will guide us towards meaningful outcomes and renewed momentum.”

Dr. Acharya lauded the active participation of Sri Lankan ministers and secretaries present at the meeting, noting that their engagement symbolised an expanding global commitment to protecting biodiversity beyond South Asia. He thanked all participants for their “enduring belief in the SAWEN mission” and recognised the tireless efforts of Sri Lanka’s environmental authorities, especially Dr. Manuri and her team, for fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

K.R. Uduwawala, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, underscored Sri Lanka’s leadership in the regional anti-trafficking movement. “It’s a privilege to join you today,” he said. “Sri Lanka’s commitment to combating wildlife trafficking is evidenced by the establishment and operationalisation of SAWEN in 2011.”

The Sri Lankan SAWEN chapter, now involving 53 government agencies—including Customs, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Police, and the Attorney General’s Department—has become a key national platform for tackling wildlife crime. Uduwawala emphasised that this inter-agency approach has vastly improved the detection, investigation, and prosecution of wildlife crimes.

“Through the Wildlife Trafficking Awareness, Capacity, and Enforcement (CACE) Programme, supported by the US Department of State, we’ve strengthened institutional capacity and created a practical enforcement network,” he noted.

Delivering the keynote address, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Environment Minister, Anton Jayakody, emphasised the government’s vision to integrate wildlife protection into broader environmental governance.

“This meeting is not just an operational milestone—it is a platform to reform and reinforce our commitment to sustainable environmental governance,” Jayakody stated. “We are committed to ensuring that our military and prosecutors are well-equipped to address wildlife crimes with the seriousness they demand.”

He thanked the United States Department of State and its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for supporting the CACE Programme and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s pledge to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and policy reform in environmental enforcement.

EFL Chairperson, Ms. Deshini Abeyewardena, delivered a stirring appeal for formalising the network structure of SAWEN at the national level. “While we see key heads and focal points attending these meetings, we have yet to formally establish SAWEN as a legally recognised network in some countries, including Sri Lanka,” she noted.

Drawing from EFL’s 44-year legacy of fighting for “Justice for Nature,” Abeyewardena highlighted how scientific and legal expertise must be integrated into enforcement mechanisms. “We are happy to have signed an MOU with the SAWEN Secretariat. EFL stands ready to provide scientific support and legal guidance to all participating agencies.”

She also raised concerns over the alarming loss of endemic species in the region due to trafficking and warned of a growing disconnect between development and biodiversity conservation. “We must ensure that our land-use policies prioritise sustainable development. Justice for Nature is not just a slogan—it’s a generational responsibility.”

Since 2021, the CACE Programme—led by EFL in partnership with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and funded by the US government—has made tangible progress in building institutional capacities and fostering collaboration. Ms. Abeyewardena credited the training provided to 15 enforcement agencies for the recent uptick in successful wildlife crime prosecutions.

Notably, she acknowledged the Attorney General’s Department for leading efforts to align prosecution strategies and standardise legal approaches across agencies, helping close enforcement gaps.

“This programme has unified law enforcement in Sri Lanka like never before,” she said. “What we’ve learned here can serve as a model for the region.”

Participants agreed that while SAWEN has facilitated critical dialogue and policy alignment, more must be done to operationalise its goals. “Wildlife crime cannot be tackled in isolation,” Uduwawala emphasised. “This is why platforms like SAWEN are essential to coordinate regional enforcement, intelligence exchange, and collective action.”

Sri Lanka, as the host nation, committed to further embedding SAWEN into its legal and institutional frameworks. “We look forward to exploring how SAWEN can synergise regional efforts through knowledge exchange, joint capacity building, and operational collaboration,” said Uduwawala.

As the executive meeting concluded, a shared message resonated across the conference hall: South Asia must act now to protect its natural heritage from the expanding threat of wildlife trafficking. With both ecological and security implications, the crisis demands not just political attention but lasting institutional transformation.

“We have the science. We have the legal frameworks. What we need now is political courage and regional unity,” said Ms. Abeyewardena. “This meeting must lead to more than resolutions. It must drive enforcement, reform, and long-term conservation.”

By Ifham Nizam