Strengthening Sabah’s Fight Against Wildlife Crime: US Government Pledges New Support
Press release from Sabah Wildlife Department and Danau Girang Field Centre
9 December 2024, Kota Kinabalu: In a significant move to combat wildlife crimes in Sabah, the United States Department of State’s, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), has awarded a second grant to Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) to further support the fight against wildlife crimes. In collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and other stakeholders, this marks another chapter in the region’s wildlife conservation efforts.
Mr. Mohd Soffian bin Abu Bakar, SWD’s Deputy Director commented that “This new project builds upon the success of DGFC’s previous INL funded project, ‘Boosting Enforcement and Forensic Capacity to Deter Wildlife Trafficking in Sabah,’ which ran from 2019 to 2024. During the course of the initiative, the project received RM7.7 million (USD $1.83 million). The highlights of this earlier project included the creation of specialised Intelligence and Forensic Units within the SWD, as well as the establishment of interagency networks, such as the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Committee (WCIC) and the Sabah Analysts Network (SAN).”
Project Coordinator and DGFC’s Scientific Advisor, Dr. Milena Salgado-Lynn, stated that “Over 200 people, from 19 government and 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), benefited from over 60 training sessions covering intelligence, enforcement, and prosecution topics. The funding was also instrumental in achieving ISO17025 accreditation for wildlife forensic processes in the SWD’s Wildlife Health, Genetic, and Forensic Laboratory, and the certification of wildlife forensic scientists. These steps were crucial for processing wildlife DNA evidence in Sabah, which led to arrests in 24 cases and DNA identifications in 62 cases.”
SHIELD (Sabah’s Harmonized Intelligence, Enforcement, and Legal Defence Against Wildlife Crimes) is the next phase of DGFC’s enforcement strategy. It will run from October 2024 to September 2026, with an allocation of $1.5 million (RM6.9 million). This collaborative project aims to strengthen governance and training; further improve prosecution processes; streamline the flow of critical information between agencies; address legal gaps; raise awareness of digital crimes linked to wildlife offenses and boost cross boundary interagency collaboration.
“The support from INL has been invaluable for Sabah’s wildlife; the new award will be very important to implement Sabah’s ‘10-Year Action Plan on Combating Wildlife Crime’, launched in October this year. We are very pleased to be partnering with DGFC, WWF Malaysia (Sabah), Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM), and TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, under the SHIELD Project”, stated Mr. Roland Niun, Director of the SWD.Dr. Benoit Goossens, Director of DGFC and Professor at Cardiff University said “The success of our previous efforts demonstrates that collaboration and innovation are essential in the fight against wildlife crimes. SHIELD represents the next step in creating a safer future for Sabah’s wildlife.”
“With enhanced resources, strengthened partnerships, and renewed commitment, this initiative sends a clear message; Sabah’s wildlife is a global treasure worth protecting”, concluded Niun.
For more information or to arrange interviews with project partners, contact DGFC (enquiries@danaugirang.com.my)
Participants in the Anti-Corruption training in July 2020.
INL Representative with members of the WCIC in August 2023.
SWD officers with Judge Elsie Primus, during a training in court procedures in August 2022.
Forensic Unit members assisting a large wildlife seizure in Cambodia in October 2022.
For more information on this press release, please contact:
Dr Benoit Goossens, Danau Girang Field Centre
Email contact@dgfc.life