KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia has won the Asia Enforcement Awards winners for the Collaboration category.
The entity won the award with its Community Rangers program which it launched in 2020. Those rangers comprised of Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysia Police veterans, indigenous peoples and local communities.
In total, some 1,000 community rangers serve across 120 posts to combat poaching and encroachment on protected areas, including national parks, wildlife reserves and forest reserves.
“The diverse skills and experiences these groups bring have enhanced enforcement, with the initiative working to improve socio-economic conditions and reduce natural resource dependency,” according to a statement by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The 8th edition of the Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards recognized action in the categories of impact, innovation, gender leadership, collaboration and Asia-Africa collaboration.
he 2023 Awards were organized by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention), the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), UNDP, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The award ceremony was held alongside the Global Wildlife Programme conference organized by the World Bank.
“Governmental authorities working on environmental enforcement issues are on the frontline of efforts to combat transboundary environmental crime. Through this year’s Awards, we are recognizing and celebrating their critical and essential role and effort in doing so,” said Georgina Lloyd,UNEP Coordinator for Environmental Law and Governance for Asia and the Pacific
On Nov 28 in Bangkok, government agencies and officials from the Philippines, Thailand, China, India, and Tanzania were announced today as recipients of the 2023 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards for their standout efforts to combat transboundary environmental crime.
Transboundary environmental crime presents a serious threat in the Asia region.
Illegal trade in wildlife undermines conservation efforts, harms economies, devastates livelihoods, and compromises ecosystems on which humans depend.
The Asia region is also a destination for illegal transboundary movement of chemicals and waste.
“The work of the award winners transcends boundaries and sets a benchmark for excellence. They are not only enforcing the law, but also safeguarding our environment, biodiversity, and the ecological balance of our planet,” said Akiko Yamamoto, UNDP Regional Environment and Energy Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific.
Jenna Dawson-Faber, Regional Programme Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment, said that the Asian Environmental Enforcement Award winners “represent the epitome of dedication to our shared values and planet. Their accomplishments serve as a testament to the importance of diversity and thoughtfulness in leadership and the collaborative commitment needed to combat crimes the environment across borders and continents.”
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