Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT): Combatting Environmental Organized Crime in the Philippines
Project Manager: Dr. Mary Jean Caleda
The ADB/GEF-DENR Project on Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT): Combatting Environmental Organized Crime in the Philippines is a 3-year GEF-6-funded project executed by the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau with the ADB as the GEF Implementing Agency.
The Project aims to combat environmental organized crime in the Philippines through legal and institutional reforms, capacity building in the full law enforcement chain and to reduce demand for illegal wildlife and wildlife parts.
Its project sites are Metro Manila, Region 7 (Cebu) and Region 13 (Butuan). It has a total GEF grant of USD 1,834,862 and a co-financing of USD 575,757.
OUR PARTNERS
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1992 to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Thirty-nine (39) donor countries contribute to the GEF which is replenished every four years. GEF funds programs and projects in developing countries and countries in transition to meet the objectives of international environmental conventions and agreements.
GEF provides funding to intergovernmental bodies, government agencies and departments, NGOs, civil society, indigenous people’s organizations and the private sector to help them implement projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury, sustainable forest management, food security, and sustainable cities.
Launched in 2015, the Global Wildlife Program (GWP)—A Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development—is a $131 million grant program funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank Group. The GWP seeks to address the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) across 19 countries in Asia and Africa by serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and coordination,and supporting on-the-ground actions.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance. ADB is one of 18 accredited GEF agencies. ADB’s co-financing and technical assistance is worth USD 750,000.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the primary agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, with the goal of ensuring equitable sharing of the derived benefits for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.
Biodiversity Management Bureau
DENR-BMB is the National Focal Point for the Convention on Biological Diversity and is responsible for the conservation of the country’s ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity. It is the management authority for CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) for terrestrial species, marine turtles, dugongs, and crocodiles, and regulates and monitors the international trade of CITES listed species
- DENR NCR
- DENR Region 7
- DENR Region 13
Tanggol Kalikasan (Defense of Nature) is a non-stock, non-profit and non-governmental organization involved in public interest environmental lawyering in the Philippines. It was incorporated as a fully independent organization in January 2001 after thirteen years as the environmental law office of Haribon Foundation. Tanggol works with national and international partners and networks and has its main office in Quezon City. It also maintains an area office in Lucena City (Southern Luzon Office).
NIRAS is an international, multidisciplinary consultancy company with over 2100 employees located in offices in Europe, Asia and Africa. Its work in natural resource management covers a wide range of areas including biodiversity and wildlife conservation and protection. Covering the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking, the consortium has managed projects and implemented a wide variety of knowledge-based and behavior change projects in the Philippines, in Asia and Africa.
OTHER PARTNERS
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The CITES Secretariat works to ensure that international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal, sustainable and traceable by assisting with communication and monitoring the implementation of the Convention to ensure that its provisions are respected.
International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)
ICCWC is the collaborative effort of five inter-governmental organizations that aims to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support to combat wildlife and forest crime to ensure perpetrators of serious wildlife and forest crime will face a formidable and coordinated response. The ICCWC partners are the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank and the World Customs Organization.
Project Documents
IWT Project Brochure (English)
IWT Project Brochure (Tagalog)
IWT Project Brochure (Visayan Butuan)
Wildlife Rescue Centers Assessment Report
PROJECT VIDEOS