Asia and the Pacific

Our Work

As a hotspot of biodiversity, Asia and the Pacific is being threatened by criminal activities. Forests are shrinking faster in south-east Asia than anywhere else in the world with a loss of 376,000 km²from 1990 to 2020 - equivalent to the whole surface of Japan. Southeast Asian countries are source, transit and destination markets for illegal wildlife trade. Wildlife and forest crime pose a serious risk to biodiversity and have contributed to the near extinction of rare mammals, birds and reptiles. Tackling the illegal wildlife trade through a One Health approach is crucial to preserve biodiversity while preventing the transmission of diseases from wildlife to humans.

With a 171% increase of plastic waste imports between 2016 and 2018, ASEAN is the main receiving region in the world. The management of imported waste has become an opportunity for the infiltration of organized crime. UNODC addresses the illegal flow of waste as a way to support circular economies while promoting the rule of law.

The UNODC Environment Team initiated activities in Southeast Asia in 2010 and more recently expanded its technical assistance to Member States in South Asia and the Pacific. Its work has also adapted to cover broader crimes that affect the environment including through its newly launched projects SAFE and Unwaste.

Webstories

3 March 2023

Unleashing the Power of Partnerships: 5 collaborative ways UNODC tackles wildlife crime in Asia-Pacific

24 February 2023

Launch in Southeast Asia of the UNODC legislative guide on combating waste trafficking

3 February 2023

Coordinated cross border customs operation leads to increased drug and wildlife seizures across Asia and the Pacific

6 December 2022
UNODC builds bridges between Asia, Africa and Latin American enforcement authorities

25 November 2022
CITES COP19: UNODC highlights perspectives from Southeast Asia on illegal wildlife trade and One Health

Wildlife Crime

The Environment Team works with legal systems and law enforcement agencies of Member States in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific to: strengthen policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks; enhance knowledge and skills to investigate and prosecute related criminal activities; increase awareness regarding the nature and scale of wildlife and forest crimes; and enhance cooperation on a bilateral and regional level.

SAFE

The Safety across Asia For the global Environment project improves the understanding of the linkages between wildlife crime and the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Through a risk assessment framework, the project supports the identification of facilities with a high risk of disease transmission from wild animals to humans and proposes mitigation strategies.

Unwaste

The Unwaste initiative brings together experts and policymakers to fight against waste trafficking between the EU and Southeast Asia. By analysing waste flows and through inter-regional dialogues, the project supports ongoing efforts towards a circular economy transition.

Multimedia

UNODC Explains

Wildlife crime: Don't be part of it!

Asia wildlife enforcement

Gallery

Rhino horn scanners

Scanners donated to China Customs lead to new lines of investigation

Prosecutor training

Training on financial investigations for prosecutors in Viet Nam

Lab support

Lab technician conducts analysis on seized wildlife samples

Customs Operation

Seizure made by Cambodia Customs under Operation Mekong Dragon III

Investigator training

Practical training for investigators in Lao PDR

Lab mentorship

TRACE and IEBR staff working on a skull at Viet Nam lab

Controlled deliveries

Training brings enforcement officers from Africa & Asia together

Drafting legislation

Regional workshop on drafting legislation to combat wildlife crime

CSI training

Hands-on training for investigators of wildlife crime

Publications

Rapid Assessment - Malaysia

Rapid Assessment - Thailand

Upper Mekong study

Guide on pathogen exposure

Meet the team

Jenna Dawson-Faber
Regional Programme Coordinator

Viet Nam

Ioana Cotutiu
Programme Coordinator (Unwaste)

Thailand

Zhiqiang Tao
Programme Officer (law enforcement)

Thailand

Ross McEwing
Programme Officer (SAFE)

Thailand

Floriane Cartron
Research and Communication Specialist

Thailand

Lodigario Jr Ani Rigor
Programme Management Specialist

Thailand

Prompen Wattanabud

Programme Assistant

Thailand

Dariya Suebkraisorn
Programme Assistant

Thailand

Naphaswan Promsuwan

Programme Assistant (Unwaste)

Thailand

Muendao Suandee
National Programme Officer (Unwaste)

Thailand

Sorawit Amatavete
National Programme Officer (SAFE)

Thailand

Polen Khem
National Programme Officer

Cambodia

Sengdeuane Phomavongsa
National Programme Officer

Lao PDR

Latsamy Vongsiphaseuth
Programme Assistant

Lao PDR

Sittisan Chayyavong

National Programme Officer (SAFE)

Lao PDR

Pamouane Thongpaseuth

National Programme Officer (SAFE)

Lao PDR

Radillah Khaerany
National Programme Officer (Unwaste)

Indonesia

Lusi Maulidini
Programme Assistant (Unwaste)

Indonesia

Jazlyn Lee Fei Yee
National Programme Officer (Unwaste)

Malaysia

Nur Adlina Binti Mohd Yusoff

Programme Assistant (Unwaste)

Malaysia

Thanh Hoang Kim
National Programme Officer (Unwaste)

Viet Nam

Thu Vu Thi Minh

Programme Assistant (Unwaste)

Viet Nam

Marie Fatiaki
Programme Officer

Fiji

Deepika Naruka
Programme Coordinator

India

Ruchika Aggarwal
Admin and Finance Associate

India

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Asia and the Pacific

Our Work

Webstories

Wildlife Crime

SAFE

Unwaste

Multimedia

Gallery

Rhino horn scanners

Prosecutor training

Lab support

Customs Operation

Investigator training

Lab mentorship

Controlled deliveries

Drafting legislation

CSI training

Publications

Meet the team