Our Projects: Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF)
DSWF supported since: 1999 - 2008
Officials in South Africa alone estimate that the cases they investigate represent just 1% of wildlife smuggled across its borders. This illustrates the sheer scale of wildlife crime, which has an estimated international value of £5 billion annually, second only to drug and arms trafficking. It also illustrates the critical need for an international Task Force to prevent the further plundering of Africa's rich wildlife resources.
Conceived in Zambia and based in Nairobi, DSWF supports Africa's first ever task force fighting against illegal smuggling of ivory, rhino horn and other wildlife products across international borders. Working with officers from neighbouring member countries, the task force carries out dangerous under-cover operations and training to fight against sophisticated, well-armed criminals illegally trading in wild fauna and flora. Signatory and supporting countries include Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Swaziland, Uganda, Congo, Lesotho, South Africa, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
As one of the first NGO's funding/supporting LATF, DSWF provided funding to cover undercover cross border anti-poaching and smuggling operations, the provision of equipment and training and remains in constant touch, with priority emergency funding available for operations, if and when necessary.
