N RE I S M O SEIZU T S U C THAJIOR IVORY D E T S U GB MA N I R RA C FI CAME
UZB
TR X E S EK
AF
W
I E MON F I L D L I
TOR
T AUGH ING C
AND
ON
RE!
MO MUCH
FREELAND is dedicated to making the world free of human slavery and wildlife trafficking by increasing law enforcement capacity, supporting vulnerable communities and raising awareness. The multi-billion dollar illegal trade in protected species is one of the most lucrative illicit markets in the world today. Combined with habitat loss, it is driving many species towards extinction. Unchecked nature crime not only ravages biodiversity, but the knock-on effects can unravel entire ecosystems. The loss of important watersheds and carbon sinks, for example, accelerates global warming, endangers human health and food security In addition, human trafficking targets vulnerable people for labor and sexual exploitation, destroying lives and tearing families apart. FREELAND believes a compassionate world is a world free of slavery.
FREE
! U O Y S D E E N LAND
e. ouTub onation. Y d n a tter, ead an k, Twi word, mak o o b e of humte it. e Fac read the c n n o e s a d u p stig r evi Follow ur friends, s ime o we will inve d.com r c e f i o l n ild ela and Tell y t any wear about, sit www.fre u o r. b a i bigge e b Tell us you see or h nd.org or v n we ca traffic nfo@freela ether g o t t i s, bu email oblem r p g i are b These
Like you, I get way too many newsletters and emails, and I just can’t be bothered to read them all. I’m a busy, bottom line person who just wants to know “what’s really new and why should I care?” Which is why I think you might like the new “FREELANDER”. In this new, more visual online magazine, we cut right to the chase and tell you in as few words as possible what we’ve achieved since the last time we talked: • Which traffickers we’ve helped arrest • What new public action campaign we’ve launched • Which community of trafficking victims we’ve teamed up with to make the world a better place Have a look and let us know what you think. If you like it, pass it along. If you don’t, please tell us. And most of all, if you have information on wildlife or human trafficking and don’t know who to call, please pass on the details to us through the “FREE-LINE” at info@freeland.org. Thank you,
Steve
ter ector rt Program ive Dir n Gals o Steve r and Execut -WEN Supp N e d A E n S u A o , F f Party Chief o
Cover story
NOT FORGOTTEN Thais seize more African ivory
Royal Thai Customs continued their successful string of African ivory interceptions, seizing a major haul of elephant tusks on January 6th, 2011. The shipment from Mozambique included 69 whole tusks, as well as other ivory pieces, weighing a total of 435 kilograms. Discovered while in transit to Laos via Bangkok, the contraband has an estimated value of US$330,000. Police and Customs have uncovered massive quantities of African ivory being trafficked through Thailand in recent years. These seizures represent hundreds of individual African elephants killed in the wild, threatening a population already hit hard by habitat loss. It is unknown how much ivory passes through Thai borders undetected, but recent seizures expose a troubling trend. “We commend Thai authorities on this important seizure and hope they will continue until they catch the top culprits who are behind the major shipments moving between Africa and Asia, so that endangered African elephants can experience some relief from commercial poaching,� FREELAND Director Steve Galster.
A JOINT TUSK FORCE
Thais and Africans Join Forces to Stop Ivory Trafficking FREELAND is helping Thai Authorities step up cooperation with African governments to monitor and stop the flow of illegal wildlife from East Africa to Asia. Kenya Wildlife Service and Lusaka Agreement Task Force investigators shared information and held cross-border investigation planning sessions with their counterparts from the Royal Thai Police, Customs, Thailand’s Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) Program Coordination Unit, at FREELAND -organized conferences from November 8-12th, 2010. Funded by USAID and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this special international meeting of wildlife crime investigators was held in Bangkok, and also involved officers from India and China. African and Asian officials have heralded the new partnership and hope to now work together toward unraveling the international ivory trade.
Premiers in the
US on Nat
Geo Wild fr
om Feb 15
th
A RED LIGHT FOR HUMAN TRAFFIC FREELAND helps Police Shake Uzbek Sex Trafficking Ring
Acting on information provided by FREELAND and the United Nations, Thai Police raided a Bangkok apartment on December 19th, arrested a human trafficker and rescued several young Uzbek women who were allegedly lured into forced prostitution and robbery. During several weeks of investigation, FREELAND discovered that at least three Uzbek women had recently escaped from the trafficking ring, which is controlled by Thai and Uzbek criminals. Up to 19 women were being kept inside single apartments without access to their passports. While some women were in control of their own movements, others were threatened and beatened when they refused to obey orders from the traffickers. This action demonstrates that good intelligence and police work can help rescue people from enslavement and that criminals cannot act with impunity. Thai and Uzbek authorities are being encouraged to handle the case with care until the perpetrators are no longer a threat, while the victims are taken care of properly. If you witness or suspect human trafficking, contact trusted authorities or FREELAND.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA Equipping Rangers to Monitor Wildlife
The Eastern Forest Complex is one of Thailand’s most diverse natural ecosystems and globally important habitat for numerous endangered species. FREELAND has been actively working to improve the capacity of forest rangers to protect these forests. Pang Sida National Park is the latest to benefit from monitoring and analysis training under FREELAND’s signature PROTECT program. During December, 25 rangers from the park were trained to collect data, such as signs of wildlife or poaching infringements, in a standardized way and to regularly relay their results back to park management. Data collection and analysis is crucial to providing effective protection for wildlife and their habitats in parks like Pang Sida. By collecting information about animal locations and violations, rangers can better target their patrols to protect key species from poaching and also understand which approaches are working and what needs to be improved.
ure s capt amera als, c d e t a im . Automs of rare an ach them o image ose who p h and t
metal d ced in thieves an la p e r m a o s r a f . r t em me res The ca o protect th en in the fo t boxes nts and hidd elepha
e DNP ngers al of th igned the ra s military. r e n e tor G wadi des k les r Direc em loo as Forme prasop Sur to make th d e Dr Plo camoflaug e uniqu
At the conclusion of training, FREELAND donated equipment, including wildlife identification guides, measuring calipers, digital cameras, compasses, GPS equipment and a computer to newly trained rangers and park management so that they can continue to apply their new skills, with FREELAND on hand to assist. This course was supported by Thailand’s Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the Rufford Small Grants Foundation.
BANNERS ON THE BORDER
Make Manila airport a wildlife crime free zone Eye-catching banners bearing the slogan “Wildlife Trafficking Stops Here” were unveiled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on December 14th, 2010, showing that the Philippines is further stepping up it’s efforts to stop wildlife trafficking. Depicting endangered and commonly trafficked species relevant to the Philippines, the campaign alerts travelers that transportation of protected species is not tolerated under international and Philippines law, and should be reported to authorities. The new campaign at Ninoy Aquino is part of a broader regional effort to increase awareness and vigilance against wildlife trafficking through Southeast Asia’s airports developed by FREELAND. “Wildlife Trafficking Stops Here” was first launched at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport in March 2009, and has since expanded to airports in Laos, Vietnam, and now the Philippines, with support from USAID, governments, local NGOs, and airport authorities.
BUILDING A SHIELD FOR LAO FORESTS To lay the foundations for improving forest protection in Laos, FREELAND conducted a tailored enforcement course from its signature Protected-area Operational and Tactical Enforcement Conservation Training (PROTECT) program at Nam Ha ASEAN Heritage Park in the north of the country during November 22-26, 2010. PROTECT provides forest rangers with the tools and knowledge needed to safely secure protected areas from poaching, illegal logging and other threats. For most participants, this type of formal training was new, and they welcomed the introduction to more advanced techniques for effectively protecting large areas of forest. Working closely with the Ministry of Forestry, FREELAND showcased the course to senior personnel from government agencies in charge of forest protection across Laos in order to help them understand the methods and benefits of building ranger patrol capacity. Thirteen personnel from various agencies, including the Forest Protection department and the Lao military participated in the associated training needs review workshop, which examined key gaps in forest protection and will help them make informed decisions on their specific training requirements. This FREELAND-implemented training and workshop was funded and supported by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, USAID, the Government of Lao PDR, Free the Bears Laos, and the SUFORD Project.
TIGHTENING VIETNAM’S BORDERS Vietnam’s borders are central to many wildlife trafficking routes in the area. Continuing efforts tighten these vital borders, FREELAND partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to organize a two-day environmental crime suppression workshop for key government agencies during December 13-14, 2010. Held in Hanoi, the workshop helped agencies responsible for border security, wildlife and forestry crimes, human trafficking, as well as illegal transport of narcotics, ozone depleting substances and environmental waste, to jointly review their operations and discuss ways to strengthen the response to all these crimes. This included setting priorities for effective cooperation in Vietnam with the Partnership Against Transnational-crime through Regional Organized Law-enforcement (PATROL), a new program spearheaded by partners including FREELAND and the UNODC to develop border security against trafficking in Asia. Participants discussed coordination mechanisms for and the establishment of new-model Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) that will help share information on trafficking and fast-track border security training for environmental, human trafficking and drug crimes.
SURVIELLANCE
What else is on our radar? LAO PROSECUTORS JOIN THE CAUSE Strong deterrents are crucial to stopping crimes against wildlife, which is why FREELAND is working with prosecutors and judges across Asia to ensure these destructive offenses are properly prosecuted. On December 12, 2010, FREELAND helped the Lao PDR Department of Forestry to organize a special ‘’Legal Process for Wildlife Crime Prosecution’’ workshop for 42 members of the Judiciary, Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Department of Forestry Inspection (DoFI). Held in Vientiane, the USAID-sponsored workshop provided a forum for discussion of wildlife laws, judicial roles and responsibilities, and legal processes relevant to effectively prosecuting wildlife crimes. It also helped raise judicial awareness of these crimes and their impact. fast-track border security training for environmental, human trafficking and drug crimes.
Don’t forget...
Starring FREELAND
Premiers in the US on Nat Geo
Wild from Feb 15th
TAIWAN EXTENDS HELPING HAND An evaluation of wildlife law enforcement in Taiwan conducted in early December by FREELAND at the invitation of the Green Consumers Foundation has recommended an inter-agency government enforcement network be set up. Sponsored by a prominent legislator, the evaluation collected input from twelve government agencies and found that Taiwan is committed to eradicating wildlife crime - with a high conviction rate for illegal wildlife trade. However, Taiwan remains a major node for this trade and could further strengthen its response through increased networking between key agencies and by establishing a central database system to monitor the problem. Mark Bowman from FREELAND Foundation and Jay Fang from Green Consumers Foundation meeting with Senior Department Officials from the National Police Agency of Taiwan to discuss ongoing efforts in combating wildlife crime.
IE” H S U M ON E I H S U TI M A “ V R O E TS G FE CONS N E D STU WILDLI OVER Students from the New International School of Thailand are raising awareness and funds in support of FREELAND’s alternative livelihoods program. The Bangkok-based students have started growing organic mushrooms just like the reformed wildlife poachers participating in FREELAND’s alternative livelihoods program around Khao Yai National Park in Central Thailand. With help from teachers, senior business and arts students created the “Mushie Mushie” brand and comic book hero to promote produce. While younger student farmers are in charge of cultivation, and Food Technology classes assist with cooking for regular on-campus tastings. FREELAND wishes our new student supporters bumper crops in their and MushieMan’s quest to help protect endangered wildlife. Read MushieMan Comic Episode 1 here: http://khaoyai.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/ mushiemancomic.jpg Or become a fan on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/MushieMushieMushrooms-Against-Poaching/175542719138760
GHT
HOU INAL T
F
Amongst last months Ivory haul were 69 complete tusks. That represents at least thirty five dead elephants. In one single seizure. And this is still only what we catch, what about the amount that gets through? These animals will only be safe when we have a world free of wildlife trafficking. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Never buy ivory or other wildlife products if you are a tourist, regardless of the law in the country you are visiting. You are committing a crime when you attempt to transport those products across any international border. Report anything you see that looks suspicious to us at info@freeland.org We will investigate it. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Tell your friends, spread the word, make a donation. It’s a big problem, but together we can be bigger.
Š
www.freeland.org