Poaching is one of the biggest threats to the future of our wildlife, big and small, all around the world. However, with the development of the Zero Poaching Toolkit, tools and methods are now available to stop poaching in its tracks.

THE ZERO POACHING GOAL

Our vision is a world free of poaching.

Zero poaching is achieved when there are no detectable traces of poaching activity in the landscape over a set time period and there is no discernible impact on a species to recover and sustain an increase in population.

THE TOOLKIT

The Zero Poaching Toolkit is a group of tools under the categories of Assessment, Technology, Capacity, Community, Prosecution and Cooperation:

• ASSESSMENT: Assessing how effective existing enforcement activities are is an essential starting point for achieving Zero Poaching
• CAPACITY: Increasing the ability and motivation of anti-poaching staff to protect wildlife is a key step towards achieving Zero Poaching
• COMMUNITY: Recognizing how to best include local communities in protection efforts is crucial in achieving Zero Poaching
• COOPERATION: Cooperative anti-poaching efforts at national and international levels is fundamental for achieving Zero Poaching
• PROSECUTION: A well-functioning judicial-criminal process is imperative for discouraging poaching activity and achieving Zero Poaching
• TECHNOLOGY: Using the most up-to-date technology gives enforcement personnel an edge in achieving Zero Poaching

When used together, these tools have the power to stop poaching.

This Toolkit helps national and state agencies, protected area managers, rangers and other frontline protection staff close gaps in anti-poaching efforts. The tools are freely available and well supported by a host of organizations (for full list, see end of article). Using this Toolkit sends a strong international message that a country is taking steps to ensure its natural capital and iconic species continue to thrive well into the 21st century and beyond.

ZERO POACHING IS ACHIEVABLE: EXAMPLE

Statement by Mr. Tika Ram Adhikari, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of Nepal:

“Nepal, a small Himalayan nation, has shown that eliminating poaching is actually possible. Having achieved 365 days of Zero Poaching twice between 2011 and 2014, Nepal hopes to be an example to the world while forging sustainable partnerships in working together towards Zero Poaching.

The Zero Poaching Toolkit serves as a benchmark for countries to assess their own positions and statuses towards achieving Zero Poaching. The Government of Nepal is committed to Zero Poaching and has achieved it over the course of several years and in several protected areas. While it is not an easy task, it does start with that first step and Nepal fervently hopes other countries will commit to taking steps to achieve Zero Poaching in their own territories. Wildlife is under threat from poaching and we must all work together to ensure a future for our wildlife for the sake of our future generations.”

For full details, please visit the Zero Poaching website: www.zeropoaching.org – (currently under construction)