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This new activity aims to safeguard biodiversity and combat wildlife crime by fostering increased collaboration with regional civil society organizations, improving rulemaking and policymaking systems, and increasing collective efforts across the region
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected RTI International, a nonprofit research institute and leading international development organization, to lead its End Wildlife Crime (EWC) activity across Asia.
The goal of the five-year activity is to conserve biodiversity and strengthen rules-based order by building on the long history of the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia in countering wildlife trafficking (CWT). This activity builds upon the successes of prior CWT activities, notably USAID Wildlife Asia and USAID Reducing Demand for Wildlife (RDW), both implemented by RTI. USAID RDW successfully reduced the demand for wildlife products from 33% in 2020 to 4.5% in 2022 in Thailand and China.
“As economies in the region continue to grow there is an increase in tourism, commerce and other drivers of demand for wildlife parts and products,” said Paul Jeffery, director of the environment team at RTI. “ This new activity will successfully forge stronger and sustainable coalitions that integrate efforts from regional civil society organizations, implementing partners, government stakeholders, and the private sector to end wildlife crime.”
To combat the ongoing demand for wildlife parts and products, EWC will build and expand upon this work by taking a whole of society approach. The activity will encourage all people, including young people, women, Indigenous communities, faith-based groups and environmental organizations, to join efforts in protecting wildlife.
This includes expanding the role of civil society to be a force multiplier across the region against illegal wildlife trade. The activity will give regional or local problem solvers and champions for wildlife protection the tools and capacities they need, while also working to facilitate stronger relationships between community organizations, law enforcement, media, schools, businesses and the government to reduce both the supply and demand for wildlife parts and products.
RTI will collaborate with World Wide Fund for Nature, International Fund for Animal Welfare, TRAFFIC and The Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific to combat wildlife crime, protect biodiversity, foster good environmental governance, ensure critical conservation and take bold steps to address gender inclusion, climate change and build regional resilience.
