25 July 2012: The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) has launched the Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit, which will allow countries to collect and analyze available data, gather evidence, prepare and preserve the wildlife and forest crime scene, and identify suspects.

In collaboration with its ICCWC partners, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) commissioned the development of the toolkit, which will be tested in partnership with selected national governments. The toolkit was launched during the 62nd meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Standing Committee (SC 62). The kit includes resources on: wildlife and forest legislation, law enforcement measures, prosecutorial and judicial capacities, drivers of wildlife and forest offenses, and the effectiveness of preventive interventions at the national level.

CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon highlighted the scaling up of collective enforcement efforts in recognition of the serious risks that wildlife crime poses to people and nature. UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said the toolkit will be invaluable to boost law enforcement training, strengthen the judiciary and prosecution, and promote international cooperation. World Bank’s Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte also welcomed the toolkit, noting that its new and innovative ideas will enable countries to better combat environmental crime. [Toolkit][CITES Press Release]