Bangkok--18 Nov--Asian Institute of Technology
Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) in Africa and Asia. Signing the MoU on 16 November 2016, Bonaventure Ebayi, Director, Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) stated that the adoption of WEMS in Asia is a positive development for wildlife conservation.
"We are happy that AIT will champion the implementation of WEMS," the LATF Director remarked, while adding that he was confident that with Asia possessing a strong base in Science and Technology, it will be easier for Asian countries to embrace the system.
LATF is an intergovernmental organization which facilitates cooperative activities in investigating violations of national laws pertaining to illegal trade in wild fauna and flora. The Republics of Congo (Brazzaville), Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia; and the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland are signatories to the agreement. The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (Task Force) was launched on 1 June 1999, with its headquarters located in Nairobi, Kenya.
Representing AIT at the MoU signing ceremony on 16 November 2016 were Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Vice President for Development; Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director, AIT Solutions; Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Executive Director, AIT Extension; Mr. Manesh Lacoul, Deputy Director, WEMS Secretariat, AIT Solutions; Dr. Md. Zakir Hossain of AIT Extension; Mr. Shawn Patrick Kelly, Director, Office of External Relations (OEXR); and Ms. Sumana Shrestha, Senior Program Officer, OEXR.