Transnational Wildlife Crime Policy: research findings and experiences

Dr Dylan HorneANU TEC Project Visiting Fellow (August–November 2012)

(Former) Senior Compliance Officer, Department of the Environment

Overview

1.Brief summary of research – policy, optimal policy, and preliminary gap analysis

2.So what: Recommendations and relevance

3.Reflections on the experience

Aim: To conduct a preliminary analysis of policy responses to transnational wildlife crime in the Asia-Pacific region with a focus on national and agency-level policy in six case study countries

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Viet Nam

Why?

First, knowledge of policy context is poor.

Second, to complement Pink (2013).

1. The research: Aim and rationale

GLOBAL

- CITES- Other conventions (e.g. UNCTOC, UNCAC)

REGIONAL- SE ASIA (ASEAN-WEN)- PACIFIC (PIF, PTCN)

NATIONAL/AGENCY – Focus of this research

Policy = “plans, programs, regulatory schemes, strategies, agreements etc. that provide for a coordinated, cohesive response to wildlife crime”

1. The research: Policy

National/agency level policy responses?They vary across 6 countries depending on the nature of the problem in that country...

...there are similarities and differences

• CITES-laws: compliance and enforcement• MoUs between agencies/countries• Awareness-raising• Capacity-building• Participation in, and establishment of, networks• Participating in regional programs• Implementing obligations under other MAs

1. The research: Policy

Identifying an ‘optimal’ policy response would give a basis for evaluation... Sources?

1. The research: Optimal policy

Identifying an ‘optimal’ policy response would give a basis for evaluation... Sources?

An optimal response must be:1. Proactive and intelligence-based

2. Multifaceted addressing many aspects of the problem

3. Multilateral involving cooperation between several actors

4. Monitored, evaluated and adapted as necessary

1. The research: Optimal policy

To what extent does national/agency-level policy meet the four requirements of an optimal policy response?

1. Proactive and intelligence-based?

2. Multifaceted addressing many aspects of the problem?

3. Multilateral involving cooperation between several actors?

4. Monitored, evaluated and adapted as necessary?

1. The research: Prelim gap analysis

2. So what – recommendations and relevance

Recommendations (for governments/agencies)... • The 4 requirements of optimal policy can be a lens for improvement• Measures can be implemented to improve how each is fulfilled

2. So what – recommendations and relevance

Recommendations (for governments/agencies)... • The 4 requirements of optimal policy can be a lens for improvement• Measures can be implemented to improve how each is fulfilled

Relevance (to practitioners)... Some interesting observations/perspectives...

• Policy doesn’t have to cause the doing, it coordinates it• Policy can exist at all levels: Global section/officer• The 4 requirements of optimal policy response can offer opportunities to

identify improvements at all levels

3. Reflections on the experience

What would I have done differently? In hindsight, a few things...

3. Reflections on the experience

What would I have done differently? In hindsight, a few things...

What did/will the department get out of this exercise?Dr Marshall’s presentation...

3. Reflections on the experience

What would I have done differently? In hindsight, a few things...

What did/will the department get out of this exercise?Dr Marshall’s presentation...

What were the main things I got out of this exercise?(1) Better understanding of the context of operational work, and particularly

exposure to the policy/science interface(2) Identifying opportunities for improvement can be like trying to see the

forest through the trees