South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

• It is a regional network comprised of eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• It aims at working as a strong regional inter-governmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.
• Secretariat: Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Adoption of SAWEN statute envisions India being part of the regional intergovernmental body in combating wildlife crime in the region and beyond. Following objectives have been set to attain the goal:
• To take initiatives for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws and policies of member countries concerning the conservation of fauna and fl ora;
• To document the trend of poaching and illegal trade and related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region;
• To strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach; and.
• To encourage member countries to prepare and implement their National Action Plans in curbing wildlife crime and to collaborate towards effective implementation.