April 12, 2026 02:48 pm (IST)
Follow us:
India to join South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS) The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval on Wednesday for India adopting the Statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN).
The cabinet has also approved India becoming a formal member of SAWEN in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region.
SAWEN, a regional network consists of eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It aims to work as a strong regional inter¬governmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.
Adoption of SAWEN statute envisions India being part of the regional inter¬governmental body in combating wildlife crime in the region and beyond.
Following objectives have been set to attain the goal:
• To take initiatives for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws and policies of member countries concerning conservation of fauna and flora;
• To document the trend of poaching and illegal trade, and related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region;
• To strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach; and
• To encourage member countries to prepare and implement their National Action Plans in curbing wildlife crime and to collaborate towards effective implementation.
South Asia is rather vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the south-east Asian region.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Climate change crisis: Dangerous snakes expanding into new regions as global temperatures rise
Fri, Apr 03 2026
Viral pink elephant photoshoot by Russian photographer in Rajasthan triggers massive backlash online
Tue, Mar 31 2026
Prabha Khaitan Foundation and WWF-India to celebrate the unsung guardians of India's forest and wildlife
Sat, Mar 21 2026
Abandoned at birth, Punch the macaque finds global love as crowds flock to Tokyo zoo
Wed, Feb 25 2026
T. rex grew for 40 years—much longer than scientists ever thought!
Fri, Jan 16 2026
Gir No Longer Home to Most Asiatic Lions
Fri, Jan 16 2026