Building effective responses to illegal wildlife trade across Central Asia
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Main
VALUE £556,998
WHERE Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
Summary
In Central Asia, wildlife is smuggled across vast international borders, but law enforcement agencies lack sufficient data, resources and trained personnel to mount an effective response. This project will combat IWT in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by identifying trade hotspots/routes and strengthening capacity to intercept wildlife products (training >150 frontline officers, rolling-out of sniffer dogs) in these strategic locations. By engaging with key decision-makers, we will promote greater, more coordinated action against IWT at a national and transboundary level.
Over 600 arrests and more than 500 convictions in wildlife crime since 2017, alongside a decline in ivory trafficking cases and an increase in elephant and rhino populations.
