Bangkok--18 Oct--FREELAND Foundation
The first ASEAN Regional Protected Area Managers Course on Enforcement conducted by FREELAND Foundation at the Regional Nature Protection Training Center in Khao Yai National Park has ended today. Designed to dramatically improve the security of protected forest ecosystems through enhanced patrolling and management, the two-week course, from October 4th — 15th, was attended by senior forest officers from across ASEAN, as well as Bhutan. The course was initiated by the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), with major funding support from US Agency for International Development and the European Union (EU).
Wildlife and forests are under intense attack by poachers, traffickers and illegal loggers across Asia. Organized criminal groups are racking up profits in the billions of dollars, largely due to inadequate protection of the source of the targeted biodiversity —national parks, sanctuaries and other so called “protected areas”. Poaching gangs are slipping into forests to supply trafficking synidcates with everything from tigers, bear, deer, and elephant ivory, to various kinds of plants and trees, such as aloe-wood, teak, and other valuable species. Park patrolling and management is crucial to protect wild animals, plants and habitats, which also make up healthy ecosystems, on which local agriculture and communities depend.
The new course, designed by FREELAND Foundation with support from USAID, aims to significantly reduce illegal hunting and habitat destruction by preparing senior officials to safeguard forest ecosystems by better utilizing their ranger force to counter nature crime. In the past, mainly field rangers have been trained. Now their managers are joining them in the action.
"We have been waiting for this kind of training for such a long time, “said one of the trainees. “The course is a new experience for us. It is a very useful and valuable for my department, especially in doing systematic enforcement work. We hope we can contribute as much as we can when we are back to our country to safeguard the Malaysia biodiversity" expressed by Mr.Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Superintendent of Taman Negara National Park, Department of Wildlife and National Park, KL, Malaysia.
Mr. Reni Hj Yahya, Forestry Officer, a participant from the Department of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam mentioned that "This training has helped us (as enforcement managers) to enhance our knowledge and experience in relation to protected areas and enforcement; at the same time, to become competent managers."
"They used to say you can't grow money on trees, but now you can with carbon credit schemes. However, the protection of forests will not result from just new policies and lots of meetings. It requires hands-on-protection, real enforcement -- patrolling the forests against poachers and illegal loggers. That is what this course equips Asian governments to do effectively" said FREELAND’s Director Steven Galster.
"Conservation in Asia has become too much about documents, policies, and meetings. Conservation is becoming conversation. The wildlife traffickers and illegal loggers are not having meetings, they are getting on with their illegal business and doing so efficiently. It's time to stop meeting and start patrolling, investigating and making arrests” added Galster.
For more information, photos, video footage, course pr?cis please contact:
FREELAND Communications Director Pornvadee Piyakhun
Tel. +662 204 2719 to 21 or email:
[email protected]