Governments and their citizens worldwide have demonstrated an increased awareness and concern about the effects of human activity on wildlife and the ecosystems that support them. The sustainability of these resources has been threatened by population growth, industrialization, localized and transboundary pollution, as well as by illegal harvest and trade in wildlife.

Governments have responded by developing a wide range of international and national laws that aim at conserving, protecting and enhancing wildlife. Applying these laws requires the collaboration of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and citizens to ensure that they achieve their goals and that sustainable use and conservation replace irresponsible exploitation and destruction.

NAWEG represents one aspect of this cooperative effort. Created in 1995, it is a network of senior wildlife enforcement officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States. It has focused on improving North American capacity to enforce laws regulating the sustainable use and conservation of our wildlife, particularly with respect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It works with other cooperative enforcement and compliance programs in collaboration with the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

 

 DNA Analysis in Wildlife Forensics (March 2000) 

 Forensic Analysis of Wildlife Crimes (May 2000) 

 

 NAWEG Strategic Plan

 Summary Report of the Tri-National Conference on Wildlife Enforcement Activities “In Search of Better Avenues for Public Participation”

 In Search of Better Avenues for Public Participation in Wildlife Enforcement Activities

 Download the NAWEG brochure in PDF format 

 North American Wildlife Forensic Laboratories: A Directory of Facilities and Specializations 

 Press release : Enforcement officials take aim at poachers