Building Bridges for Endangered Species Protection in Central America: Bi-National Trainings

White-fronted parrot at rescue center in Guatemala.© HSI/Tracy O'Toole

Central America is home to one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth. However, the native animals of the region are often subject to the horrors of the illegal wildlife trade, with birds plucked from their nests and thrown into the pet trade, and iguanas captured for their meat and skins.

The problem is particularly rampant in border areas, where wildlife is extracted from natural protected areas and then smuggled into other countries. As a result, it is essential to provide all levels of enforcement personnel working in the border areas with the proper knowledge of how to confiscate wildlife from smugglers, and then what to do with the confiscated wildlife. However, it is in these very border areas where personnel often have limited-to no knowledge of CITES and basic animal handling techniques. This creates many blind spots along the borders of Central American countries. In addition, there is often limited communication between the border officials of each country, leading to a lack of coordination and collaboration throughout the region.

Working for a Solution

In an effort to build bridges between Central American countries and increase CITES knowledge and application, HSI, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department, is conducting a series of four bi-national trainings on CITES implementation. These trainings target supervisors and implementing personnel, in order to increase technical capacity (give them information on CITES and impart practical, hands-on skills for working with wildlife) as well as to enhance interagency cooperation within and between countries and facilitate the ability of officials to provide support to staff on the ground. These workshops are made possible by a grant from the U.S. State Department with funding available under the Dominican Republic-Central America United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

	Bi-national Training in El Castillo, Nicaragua.© HSI/Tracy O'Toole

Recent Trainings

In December of 2008, HSI conducted a Bi-National Training Workshop between El Salvador and Honduras on CITES and Basic Animal Handling Techniques. This workshop was designed to build capacity and knowledge among regional customs and police officials working in border areas, in order to more effectively enforce CITES legislation throughout the region. The Bi-National was held in Choluteca, Honduras and was attended by local border officials from both countries working in and around the Gulf of Fonseca. The location was selected due to the high instance of illegal trafficking of endangered species moving from Nicaragua through to El Salvador. More than 40 participants were present from the national police, customs and Ministries of Environment and Agriculture of both countries. It is hoped that this workshop will serve as a first step in building synergies and increasing coordination between the two countries. 

HSI’s second workshop on CITES and Basic Animal Handling Techniques under the U.S. State Department grant funding was conducted in February of 2009 in El Castillo, Nicaragua, for participants from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. More than 30 officials from both countries participated in the event, with representatives from the national police, customs officials, Nicaraguan military, migration officers, animal quarantine officials, Ministries of Environment and local NGOs. The area for the Bi-National was selected due to the high prevalence of the illegal wildlife trade in Green Macaws and other parrots taken from protected areas in and around the border zone. In addition, the vast majority of border officials on both sides had no knowledge of CITES prior to the workshop and needed to acquire this knowledge in order to stem the flow of the illegal traffic of neotropical fauna in the area.

Demonstrating animal handling techniques.© HSI/Tracy O'Toole

Building Knowledge of CITES Application

HSI’s Bi-National Workshops consist of two intense days of lectures and small group activities. Participants are given detailed presentations on CITES and the application of CITES in their respective countries. On the second day, participants then learn about basic animal handling techniques and the role of wildlife rescue centers in the confiscation process. Throughout the workshops, participants are actively engaged and are asked to apply the knowledge they have learned to case studies and in small group presentations designed to test their knowledge and understanding while simultaneously giving each participant the confidence to ask questions and apply CITES to their daily functions along the border.

Given the overwhelming need for further CITES training throughout the region, participants are given electronic copies of all materials presented at the workshop so that they can share the materials with others in their home offices, thereby continuing the chain of capacity building.

	Presenting at the Bi-National Training in Nicaragua.© HSI/Tracy O'Toole

While the course materials and group exercises are essential to capacity building, the Bi-National workshops also serve as networking opportunities for the border officials of Central America. Through these workshops participants interact with their counterparts from neighboring countries and begin to build a network of contacts which allows them to increase their ability to combat illegal trade in endangered species.  At the end of each workshop, participants are given the contact details of all participants in an effort to increase coordination and collaboration throughout the region.

Tracy O’Toole is the Director of Wildlife Development Programs at HSI. Please contact Ms. O’Toole for further information regarding the Bi-National CITES Trainings in Central America at totoole@hsi.org.