BANGKOK, 4 June 2013 The Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has organized the 8th meeting of ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) from Monday to Wednesday in the northern province of Chiang Mai.
Deputy Director General of the Department, Teerapat Prayoonsitti, stated the event aims at enhancing the efficiency of wildlife plant conservation as well as strengthening anti illegal wildlife trading measures in ASEAN member countries. With the secretariat of the ASEAN-WEN located in Thailand, the country acts as an info-hub on wildlife trading prevention and mitigation. The event also provides a stage for officials concerned to exchange information on their governments’ policy towards illegal wildlife trading.
Thailand is currently facing rising wildlife crime, although the number is not at an alarming rate.
During the period of 2008-2011, Southeast Asia had faced 748 cases of wildlife related crime, involving 120,000 wildlife animals, 150,000 deaths of wildlife, and 432 tons of animal body parts with the street value of no less than 73 million US dollars.
