The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia has worked to stop the illegal trade in wildlife in Asia ever since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) was formed in 2005. The U.S assistance demonstrates strong public commitment for reducing one of the largest threats to biodiversity in Asia. At current rates of illegal wildlife trading, up to 40 percent of Asian wildlife species could be lost in this century.

Unsustainable wildlife trade also degrades the health of ecosystems, human health, governance structures and economies. As Asia develops and regional connectivity increases, so does the need for protection of the region’s natural resources. In response to these threats, USAID oversees two flagship regional biodiversity programs: Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking and the USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership.

ASIA’S REGIONAL RESPONSE TO ENDANGERED SPECIES TRAFFICKING PROGRAM

USAID has built on ASEAN-WEN's successes and is sharing its lessons with China and South Asia through Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking program. It addresses trafficking in illegal wildlife in Asia by reducing consumer demand, strengthening law enforcement and improving regional cooperation and anti-trafficking networks.

The program draws together efforts of ASEAN member states, China and South Asia, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations to respond to the challenge of protecting its unique wildlife and natural resources. Program activities range from training airlines and airports training staff to spot trafficked wildlife to encouraging resorts and restaurants to stop serving shark fin soup.

To date, the network has trained more than 8,000 officials in anti-poaching operations and wildlife crime investigations. Other results include a ten-fold increase in arrests and seizures of illegal wildlife since 2009, a fully functioning secretariat set up in Bangkok and a national task force to combat wildlife crime formed in almost every ASEAN country.

THE OCEANS AND FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP

The Oceans and Fisheries Partnership between the United States Agency for International Development, the “Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center” and the “Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security” works to strengthen regional cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, promote sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region. Southeast Asia houses some of the world’s most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems. These ecosystems provide food and income to over 200 million people in the region; however, unsustainable fishing practices threaten biodiversity, food security and livelihoods. The Oceans and Fisheries Partnership supports the development of a transparent and financially sustainable catch documentation and traceability system to help ensure that fisheries resources are legally caught and properly labeled.