Mesa Técnica in Guatemala Wildlife Conservation Society
Summary
Established in 2015, Mesa Técnica is a partnership among three civil society organizations working to build capacity for wildlife trafficking enforcement in the northern Guatemalan department of Petén. The partnership includes the Wildlife Conservation Society, Environmental Justice Forum of Petén, and Asociación Balam. Select personnel from these institutions sit on a close-knit committee dedicated to pursuing investigations into potential wildlife trafficking offenses. The committee works in coordination with the relevant law enforcement authorities and collaborates to deliver specialized training workshops to build government and civil society capacity to combat wildlife trafficking. This initiative is supported by funding from the Governments of the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.): U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Interior, Learning Question Addressed: U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the U.K. Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. What are good examples of systems, particularly judicial systems, that have made improvements in combating wildlife trafficking enforcement?
For nearly 20 years, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided support to Guatemala to improve rule of law, including efforts that have aided the fight against wildlife trafficking in the region. With the help of many implementing partners and the Guatemalan government, capacity has been built for security and justice sector institutions in the country through programs such as the Security and Justice Sector Reform Project.
Problem
Wildlife trafficking is devastating many species across Central America and the Caribbean. It is rapidly becoming more organized, sophisticated, and global in its operations, threatening to replicate the patterns observed in Africa and Asia. This illicit trade undermines local livelihoods and national economies, exacerbates corruption, and threatens national security. The rich biodiversity of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Petén is being eroded by wildlife and timber trafficking, threats that will only intensify as the human population in the area continues to grow and penetrate deeper into the reserve. A lack of economic opportunities in southeastern Petén, combined with population growth, has resulted in Guatemalan communities illegally extracting wildlife from Belize. This is exacerbating political tensions between the two countries. Low enforcement capacity, inadequate legislation, weak political will, and persistent corruption have hampered effective enforcement efforts against wildlife trafficking in both countries. Civil society leadership is therefore critical to strengthen government commitment and ensure recognition of wildlife trafficking as a serious crime. Wildlife Conservation Society | Combating Wildlife Trafficking Case Study | Page 1
Photo credit: Wildlife Conservation Society
Combating Wildlife Trafficking Case Study: Building Capacity