GWP's Latest: GEF Council approves GWP work program, 2019 annual report, and accepting nominations for Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards

GWP NEWSLETTER | JUNE 2020

Dear GWP Friends and Colleagues,

We hope you and your families are safe and healthy during this unsettling time.

As a result of COVID-19 we realize there's a lot of talk about the human impact on nature and how that has led us to where we are today, battling a pandemic that has crossed the species barrier. Below, you'll find some resources that discuss this— a new publication from TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade, COVID-19 and zoonotic disease risks, and a blog by the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Gustavo Fonseca on what we know and don't know about the origins of the novel coronavirus and how the crisis affects the GEF’s approach to the global wildlife trade, mentioning our work at the GWP.

The GEF, which finances the GWP, held their 58th Council Meeting remotely this week to develop, adopt, and evaluate the operational policies and programs for GEF-financed activities. Thanks to the Council for approving five new GWP projects (Bhutan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa) adding to the 13 projects approved in June 2019! The GWP under GEF-7 is a $125 million grant program ( including our Global Coordination grant of $10 million) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

To learn about the progress made by the GWP in 2019 under GEF-6, please read our newly released annual report. It showcases the GWP country projects, and curates lessons learned—along with challenges and activities—to provide you with a succinct update on our program.

If you or your organization is pioneering conservation technology please take a few minutes to complete the Conservation Technology Survey that the GWP in collaboration with Wildlabs.net is undertaking. Your input can help scale up solutions to conserve wildlife and habitats and explore areas of collaboration between technology partners and project teams.

Lastly, the Asian Environmental Enforcement Awards are back and the closing date has been extended to July 31st! Please consider nominating colleagues and team members who have done exceptional work in this area.

Please let us know how the impact of COVID-19 is affecting your projects by e-mailing us. Over the next few months we will be reaching out to you to explore areas for technical support.

Warm regards, the GWP Team

Global Wildlife Program Knowledge Platform 2019

The GWP's 2019 annual report summarizes the activities and initiatives implemented by the global coordination project and provides an update and early lessons from the projects implemented by the partner agencies of the GWP.

The report provides a look forward on the key activities that will be undertaken to address the complex challenge of illegal wildlife trade and expand the program to include a focus on wildlife-based economies. Learn how the GWP global grant plans to support three pillars in the next few months as we navigate a response to the pandemic: keeping wildlife high on the global agenda, better integration with partners and implementing agencies, and improving access to knowledge and resources.

Read the GWP's annual report

Are you developing conservation technology?

Take our survey!

The GWP in collaboration with Wildlabs.net is conducting a comprehensive review of conservation technologies to support stakeholders (protected area authorities, customs and law enforcement personnel, conservation practitioners and project teams) understand, monitor and detect actions along the IWT value chain (poaching, trafficking and demand).

This review can provide insights to scale up solutions to conserve wildlife and habitats and explore areas of collaboration between technology partners and project teams.

If you or your organization are pioneering technology please take this survey to help ensure all applicable technologies are captured!

Please also circulate this invitation to others in your networks who may be interested.

It should only take about 20 minutes and will be open until June 19th.

Take the survey here

Blog: A green economic recovery for South Asia

As planning for recovery from the impact of COVID-19 begins, the big question is: what form will this new economy take? The GWP's Hasita Bhammar and World Bank lead economist Urvashi Narain outline a way forward with no trade-off between economic recovery and sustainability.

Read the blog here

What do elephants say when they trumpet?

In the case of many African elephants, they are calling for help. Poachers have killed elephants for their ivory and some reports say that one elephant is killed every 26 minutes.

The GWP created this instagram video that received nearly 5,000 views for World Wildlife Day 2020.

You can watch it here .

From our partners

Q&A with the GEF's Gustavo Fonseca: 'We need to work together and follow the science'

The GEF's Director of Programs Gustavo Fonseca addresses the animal origins of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the potential power of wildlife trading bans, and the need for greater alignment between science, policy, and environmental action.

Read Gustavo's blog here

News from the GEF's CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii:

Opening remarks at the 58th GEF Council Meeting

Op-ed for Thomson Reuters Foundation News: Why I have high hopes for nature this Earth Day

GEF Interview: We need to protect our one common home

Call for nominations:

2020 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards

These awards, given by UNEP in partnership with the CITES Secretariat, UNDP, UNODC, INTERPOL, and WCO , publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions or teams in Asia combating transboundary environmental crime, such as illegal trade in wildlife, chemicals or waste.

The category for Africa-Asia cooperation in the area of illegal wildlife trade is sponsored by UNDP and the GWP via the maritime trafficking grant. This award is open to government officials from at least one Asian country and one African country for best practice in wildlife law enforcement cooperation. Examples include: exchange of information that leads to the arrest of key individuals, a coordinated enforcement operation, a controlled delivery or a successful exchange of evidence through mutual legal assistance between the two continents. (To be valid a nomination needs to list at least two countries, one in Asia and one in Africa) .

Other award categories (for countries in Asia) are for demonstration of excellence and leadership in collaboration, impact, innovation, integrity and gender mainstreaming. In past years there are have been a number of GWP winners!

Nominations can be submitted by governments, NGOs, UN agencies, etc., but awards can only be given to government officials. Self-nomination is possible.

Questions? Contact Tamara Tschentscher with the UNDP here .

* The closing date has been extended to July 31, 2020

Online Nomination Form & Information Note

UNDP-led maritime trafficking workshop in Mombasa, Kenya: Proceedings and report

Financed by the GEF and implemented by the UNDP between 2018 and 2021, the Reducing Maritime Trafficking of Wildlife between Africa and Asia project under the GWP aims to curb maritime wildlife trafficking, targeting key routes and transit points between Africa and Asia.

Countering Wildlife Trafficking Through Kenya's Seaports –

A Rapid Seizures Analysis

This paper formed the basis of discussions at the Mombasa Port Stakeholders Workshop in October 2019 (see workshop proceedings here). It provides essential information on wildlife trafficking via Kenya’s seaports, mainly the Port of Mombasa and the evidence of its role in wildlife trafficking. The analysis within this paper also provides key information on trafficking routes and concealment methods that have been used to move illicit wildlife products from and via Kenya to consumer countries.

This joint report published by TRAFFIC was supported by USAID, in collaboration with IUCN and the GWP under the UNDP-GEF Reducing Maritime Trafficking of Wildlife between Africa and Asia project.

Other Resources

TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade, COVID-19 and zoonotic disease risks: shaping the response

The COVID-19 outbreak has attracted strong attention to wildlife-sourced diseases--with many linked to trade and consumption of wild animal species--emerging as important human health concerns. China introduced emergency measures in February restricting wild animal trade and consumption; Vietnam and other countries are considering similar responses. With the epidemic still growing fast, a wide range of organizations and public voices are calling for strong permanent prohibitions on wild animal trade to reduce risks to human health.

This paper digs into what we know about links between wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases and implications for future wildlife trade policy and longer-term remedial measures.

Read the report

What are the opportunities to develop ecotourism for COVID-19 recovery?

The tourism industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19. What are the implications for nature-based tourism, which some industry experts expect to surge as the sector recovers, creating new opportunities for nature experiences and ecotourism markets?

This May 5th World Bank webinar included presentations from James Sano, Vice President, Travel and Conservation at WWF, and Chris Seek, President and CEO of Solimar International. Replay the webinar here.