CITES COP20: Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses to Environmental Crime

The value of partnerships between civil society organisations and law enforcement in the fight against environmental crime was demonstrated during a side event at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES COP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Co-organised by the Nature Crime Alliance and partners including United for Wildlife (UfW), INTERPOL, the Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance (WITA), and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), the session featured real-world examples showcasing how collaboration between CSOs and law enforcement supports the identification of criminal trends, traces illicit networks, and contributes to stronger prosecutions.

Case studies and expert presentations were shared by Jose Adrian Sanchez Romero, Operations Coordinator, Forestry and Wildlife Crimes, INTERPOL; Mary Rice, Executive Director, EIA; Steph Durno Karns, Executive Director, WITA and Shawn Karns, Director of Investigations and Trainings, WITA; Rob Campbell, Director, UfW and Patricia Raxter, Conservation Consultant, UfW; Sheldon Jordan, former Director General of Wildlife Enforcement at Environment Canada; and Davyth Stewart, Consultant, Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat.

The session also saw the unveiling of a new set of Guidelines that aim to improve the process of information-sharing between CSOs and law enforcement.

Innovative approaches to information sharing, strengthening investigations, addressing challenges, and building trust across sectors were also explored during a lively discussion.

Davyth Stewart, Consultant with the Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat, commented: “There is broad consensus that civil society organisations play a critical role in supporting government and law enforcement efforts to tackle illegal transnational wildlife crime. We need to find ways to strengthen these working relationships, and the new Guidelines aim to contribute to this effort.

“We’re grateful to our partners for sharing their unique ideas and insights with us and for contributing to this important conversation.”