Forestry Ministry Launches Leverage Project to Strengthen Wildlife Trade Eradication
The Ministry of Forestry has launched the ‘Law Enforcement for Sustainable Viable Ecosystems and Biodiversity Resilience through Multi-Sectors Engagement’ project, or Leverage, as part of efforts to strengthen the eradication and law enforcement of wildlife trafficking.
Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki stated that wildlife trafficking often involves inter-regional and transnational criminal networks, making this project crucial as it aligns with the national forestry development agenda of protecting forests, safeguarding biodiversity, strengthening governance, enforcing the law, and ensuring sustainable forest utilisation.
‘Wildlife crime cannot be viewed as an ordinary violation because it has a direct impact on the destruction of forest ecosystems and species survival,’ he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Rohmat noted that the project is also considered relevant to Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target, which focuses not only on reducing carbon emissions but also on decreasing the rate of deforestation and forest degradation, strengthening sustainable forest management, and restoring ecosystems.
Beyond supporting the national agenda, the Leverage Project is also expected to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly regarding terrestrial ecosystems, climate action, strong institutions and law enforcement, and partnerships.
‘The Leverage Project must be part of a major effort to strengthen the conservation and protection of wildlife habitats. Community participation is also important to change behaviour regarding the use of wildlife and to suppress the demand for illegal wildlife,’ he said.
Furthermore, he added, the Leverage project is expected to produce tangible results in the form of safer forest areas, more effective patrols, and strengthened investigations to dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks.
The government also requested that all knowledge and best practices generated from the project be integrated into the Ministry of Forestry’s corporate university system so that the benefits continue after the project concludes and can strengthen the capacity of forest rangers, civil servant investigators, and other law enforcement officers in handling wildlife crime.