USAID RDM/A Regional Environment Office Weekly Report Week Ending March 21, 2008

Philippine Senator Introduces Resolution on Sanitation based on USAID-funded Study
On March 10, 2008, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines introduced a resolution launching an investigation into the “deplorable state of hygiene and sanitation in the country” based on a study funded by USAID.  Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago based the resolution on information obtained from a national media coverage of a USAID-supported International Year of Sanitation event in Mandaluyong City on February 18, 2008.  The study estimated that weak sanitation costs the Philippine economy more than $1.4 billion per year in health, environment and tourism losses, and causes approximately 31 deaths per day from diarrhea alone.  Entitled, “Economic Impacts of Sanitation in the Philippines,” the study was commissioned by World Bank Water and Sanitation (WSP) Program and supported by USAID.

USAID Showcases “Twinning” at World Water Day Observance in Bangkok
On March 20, 2008, at an observance of World Water Day in Bangkok, USAID highlighted the importance of sustained counterpart linkages, or “twinning” arrangements as a critical delivery mechanism in addressing water and sanitation challenges in Asia. At a conference attended by decision-makers from across Asia and donor agencies, USAID shared experience on how partnerships between utilities, cities, governments and financial institutions lead to improved access to urban water supply and sanitation. USAID supported the need for better donor coordination and increased networking. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) hosted the observance.

West Bengal Joins Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board of India has joined the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN). With support from USAID and World Bank, West Bengal will establish an environmental compliance assistance center to address pollution generated by small- and medium-sized enterprises. Established in 2005, AECEN works to promote improved compliance with environmental legal requirements in Asia through regional exchange of innovative policies and practices. AECEN Members are national and sub-national agencies from Asian countries, and include agencies from India, Indonesia, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

USAID-funded Trainings Lead to Major Wildlife Trade Interdictions
Authorities from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam interdicted illegal wildlife in five major seizures between March 3 and 14, 2008. All countries are members for the USAID-funded ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), and in some cases officers making the seizures had undergone ASEAN-WEN training. In particular, on March 3, 2008 Indonesian law enforcement authorities applied training methods in intercepting a shipment of 3,500 green turtle eggs being smuggled on a river in East Kalimantan. On March 10, 2008, other trained Indonesian officials stopped the transport of 23,000 dried seahorses at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Customs en route to South Korea. Separately, officials from the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam seized pangolins, eagles, turtles, lizards and snakes on March 6, 10 and 14, 2008.

International Seminar Held for Law Enforcement Officials on Wildlife Crime
With support from USAID, Bangkok’s International Law Enforcement Academy hosted an ASEAN-WEN Seminar on Wildlife Crime on March 17, 2008. The seminar was attended by 62 police officers from thirteen Asian countries and territories, and focused on protected species, the illegal wildlife trade, and effective responses. Special Agent Doug Goessman of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Division spoke to the group about the importance of international cooperation in efforts to combat wildlife crime. Other presentations were made by the ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit, as well as the PeunPa Foundation and TRAFFIC, the official USAID sponsored implementers of the ASEAN-WEN Support Program.

U.S. Supports Thailand's First Wildlife Crime Judiciary Workshop
The Supreme Court of Thailand, with co-sponsorship support from USAID and the US State Department, sponsored an inaugural “Judiciary Workshop on Wildlife Crime and Prosecution” on March 12-13, 2008 in Bangkok. The workshop brought together representatives from Thailand’s judiciary and focused on Thai laws governing protection of wildlife, investigations, and prosecutions. Judicial officers from Vietnam, Malaysia, and the United States also attended to share best practices and affirm their commitment to bringing transnational wildlife traffickers to justice.

Lam Dong Province in Vietnam Raises Awareness on Biodiversity Conservation
The USAID funded Asia Regional Biodiversity Conservation Program (ARBCP) has initiated a grassroots biodiversity conservation public awareness campaign in Cat Tien National Park’s buffer zones in Vietnam.  This innovative campaign initially involved distribution of publications, posters, and media and culminated in festive local contests, performances and competitive role-playing skits between villages. Teams were judged on their conservation knowledge, spirit, and ability to link general environmental messages to attitudinal change.  More than 500 locals participated in or attended these events, and some of the performances were televised in their entirety across Lam Dong Province, reaching an estimated audience of 120,000 people.