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Law Enforcement Wildlife Criminal Justice Communications Situational Analysis Regional Collaboration - Alinea Pangolin Rehab and Release

OUR WORK

Law Enforcement

Wildlife and environmental crime is a complex issue for law enforcement agencies in Zambia and the surrounding region due to the transnational nature of these crimes and the need for coordination across multiple agencies.

To address the multifaceted nature of IWT and its underlying root causes, WCP has adopted a regional problem-solving approach involving collaboration with key partners and stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa.

We work towards understanding the socioeconomic drivers of IWT, raising awareness, building competence, identifying best practices, and improving cooperation through regional forums for information exchange and best practice learning. By bringing together anti-poaching and counter-trafficking efforts, WCP amplifies Department of National Parks and Wildlife’s efforts and disrupts and prevents wildlife crime through support to mandated organisations both in and outside of Zambia, increasing capacity and resources for impactful change.

WCP collaborates with and aims to provide long-term sustainable support to key government partners such as Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambian Correctional Services (ZCS) and Forestry. Our support includes:

  • operational resources
  • data analysis
  • capacity building
  • advocacy
  • support to effective prosecutions and appropriate sentencing
  • awareness

By fostering national and international law enforcement cooperation, IWT is disrupted across a wider geographic area, increasing the overall impact.

Our approach addresses the multiple challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental crime with long-term, multi-agency coordination and strategic and well-planned action. By working with our partners and stakeholders, we continue to provide sustainable and effective solutions to reduce and prevent wildlife trafficking in Zambia and the region through the following strategies:

Counter Poaching

Working with partners to proactively reduce poaching in Zambia’s protected areas through increased security, information development, and analysis of illegal activities inside and around protected areas.

Counter Trafficking

Assisting DNPW Investigation and Intelligence Units to effectively investigate, arrest and prosecute wildlife traffickers by:

  • increasing wildlife investigation resources
  • improving information gathering and analysis
  • strengthening collaboration between DNPW and other government and non-government entities in the wildlife and conservation sectors
  • consolidating law enforcement activities and investigations.

Collaboration

National, regional and international law enforcement collaboration and cooperation to disrupt poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Management and Oversight

Direct support to DNPW, partners and stakeholders nationwide.

Security

Strengthening the overall security of organisations, partners and protected areas. Government and NGOs are equipped to deal with the increased security risks, challenges, reduce corruption and adhere to international human rights standards.

Data Analysis and Management / Crime and Situational Analysis

Improving Zambia’s ability to prevent, combat and investigate the entire illicit value chain through:

  • improved data collection, data management, data analysis and information sharing across the region
  • develop and maintain a database system to determine trends, assess current and future threats, and develop an early warning system for wildlife trafficking
  • investigate and understand multiple criminal activities and criminal intent, including crime converging with IWT
  • improved understanding of communities, socio-economics and threats to communities.

To achieve the above, WCP supports the following:

20

DNPW Investigation and Intelligence

Units nationwide

1

DNPW Detection Dog Unit

(based in Lusaka)

5

DNPW Rapid Deployment Teams

nationwide

2

DNPW Data Analysts and 5 WCP Data Analysts

Communities and law enforcement

Wildlife law enforcement is crucial in protecting local communities, particularly those more vulnerable to the impacts of illegal wildlife trade.

It has significant social and economic effects, including loss of livelihoods, displacement and human rights violations. By enforcing laws and regulations that protect wildlife, law enforcement agencies help to protect local communities from the impacts of crime:

The loss of natural resources (e.g., forests, wildlife and fish stocks)
The loss of livelihoods and economic opportunities.

By enforcing laws that protect wildlife and their habitats, law enforcement agencies ensure that these resources are more sustainable and benefit all Zambians through sustainable resource use, such as tourism.

Wildlife enforcement actions:

  • protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities
  • ensure healthy and safe environments
  • promote social and economic justice by holding those responsible for environmental crime accountable for their actions
  • promote transparency and accountability
  • ensure those responsible are accountable for their actions.