ASEAN* recognizes the need for cooperative and incisive efforts to counter the multi-billion dollar black market trade in wildlife, which threatens global biodiversity, endangers public health, and undermines economic development.

On December 1, 2005, ASEAN issued a statement on the launching of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) with membership open to officials from Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Authorities, Customs, Police, Prosecutors, Specialized Governmental Wildlife-law Enforcement Organizations and other relevant national law enforcement agencies.Southeast Asia's rich biodiversity threatened by the global,multi-billion dollar trade in rare and endangered species.

ASEAN-WEN works closely with the CITES Secretariat, Interpol, World Customs Organization (WCO), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The United States and China are also cooperating with ASEAN-WEN to reduce wildlife crime.

*Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
 

ASEAN Appoints Senior Staff to Help Coordinate Wildlife Crime Response.

The ASEAN Secretariat has appointed two ASEAN nationals, Dr. Chumpon Suckseam of Thailand and Ms. Aschta Boestani of Indonesia, to the Program Coordination Unit for the region's Wildlife Enforcement Network. Dr. Suckseam brings extensive experience in forest conservation and management, while Ms. Boestani has past experience in primate conservation and qualifications in natural resource management. Their skills and experience will further the development of ASEAN-WEN, the world's largest wildlife law enforcement network.