Partnering with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism to combat wildlife crime, manage anti-poaching funds, strengthen customs, and raise awareness in rhino communities.
Combatting Wildlife Crime
Wildlife crime involving high-value wildlife and products that are trafficked internationally is a major threat to Namibia’s biodiversity and economy. High-value wildlife products include rhino horn, elephant ivory, pangolin scales and meat, while high-value plant products include rosewood timber and succulent plants (sold as whole live specimens). Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is now considered to be the world’s fourth largest internationally organised crime, generating between US$ 7 – 23 billion every year. As a response to this surge in wildlife crime, a diverse range of public and private actors have ramped up their efforts to curb IWT nationally and across borders. Our combatting wildlife crime projects thus focus on preventing poaching or illegal harvesting, and tightening security at border posts through the focused support of government law enforcement agencies that have the mandate to do so.
Key Partners
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (MEFT/DWNP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Rooikat Trust, Blue Rhino Task Team
Regions
Throughout Namibia with a focus on areas’ where Rhino are existing, Kunene, Erongo, Zambezi Region, Kavango East and West, Etosha National Park
Objectives
Support key partners both in government and NGOs in their efforts to prevent poaching, illegal harvesting and the trade of wildlife and wildlife products including plants.
2024 Highlights
Supported partner interventions such as intelligence and investigations leading to the arrest and convictions of rhino and pangolin poachers, ivory smugglers and plant and timber smugglers
Supported partners in on the ground operations helping to detect incursions in protected areas, reduce criminal opportunity and increase deterrence
Border post staff were trained to detect illicit wildlife products and the legislative tools available to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of wildlife criminals and their accomplices
USD 1 million was raised per year, for various partners to boost law enforcement
For more information regarding the Combatting Wildlife Crime programme. Kindly contact Rachel Futter
Main Projects
Countering Wildlife Trafficking in Namibia and Angola - (INL 5). Region: National ~ (Click to View..)
Project Description
×
Support of law enforcement activities for a broad range of Namibian partners, especially from government agencies.
Time: 01/10/2023 – 31/3/2026
Budget: USD 2,399,370.94
Donor: United States Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL)
Partners: Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (MEFT/DWNP), Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Rooikat Trust, Blue Rhino Task Team (BRTT)
Close
Intelligence support on Communal Land surrounding Rhino Ranges.