Improving Law Enforcement in Madagascar to Keep Rare Species Out of the Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Case Study on Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata)

The purpose of this project is to build capacity within the law enforcement and justice systems in Madagascar to keep rare Malagasy species out of the illegal wildlife trade, using the critically endangered radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) as a case study.

The project will be implemented by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and TRAFFIC, in close partnership with Madagascars Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Ecology, Environment and Forests.

It will contribute to the conservation of Madagascars protected species by addressing current loopholes in law enforcement and corrupt behaviors along the trafficking chain.

Specific activities will include: (1) leading a needs assessment and delivering a workshop to design a training program that will ensure domestic implementation of relevant regulations and tools for combatting wildlife trafficking; (2) training target Malagasy judges and law enforcement officers on pertinent wildlife regulations; (3) organizing a field visit to the Mahafaly landscape for key national and regional Magistrates and law enforcement officers, to help them better understand field realities; (4) develop a roadmap for incorporating wildlife trade and regulation into the curriculum of Madagascars National School for Magistrates; and (5) using Madagascars national strategy for combatting corruption and international treaties and guidelines for combatting corruption to update the countrys existing anti-corruption instruments in the judiciary system, in collaboration with civil society groups.