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Pinoy Abroad

PHL draws up steps vs trafficking of endangered species


The Philippines last week proposed a three-step strategy to combat the trafficking of endangered species, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Wednesday. Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale made the call at the launching of Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) in Bangkok last July 22, the DFA said. Lacanlale said that as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), the Philippines outlined the following steps against trafficking of endangered species:

  • To continue exploring mechanisms to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the region;
  • To continue raising the profile of ASEAN-WEN by talking about its achievements at every appropriate forum; and
  • To continue building partnerships and creating linkages with countries outside Southeast Asia in as much as wildlife trafficking is transnational in character that requires joint concerted action by governments worldwide.
Lacanlale pointed out that ARREST — a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development — will “complement the work of ASEAN-WEN in combating illegal cross-border trade in endangered flora and fauna." Represented by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau director Theresa Lim, the Philippines assumed the one-year chairmanship of ASEAN-WEN in May 2011. Accomplishments Lacanlale noted the accomplishments of ASEAN-WEN since it was founded in 2005, including enforcement actions by national teams and inter-agency task forces. Such actions led to the recovery of live wildlife, animal parts and derivates worth millions of dollars in Manila, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia, and the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of those responsible. Lacanlale assured the public of the Philippines’ commitment to continue the “excellent" work done by Thailand, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia and Myanmar as previous country chairs in advancing the goals and objectives of ASEAN-WEN. — JE, GMA News
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