Use of all available technologies and tools

Criminals constantly adapt their activities to changing circumstances. It is therefore vital that activities to counter crime also adapt. A great variety of modern technologies exist that can significantly enhance initiatives to counter wildlife crime. These can be combined with a range of traditional and novel conservation and law-enforcement tools to provide an operational edge over criminal activities. Constant innovation in the development of technologies and tools requires regular updating to keeping abreast of changes. It is also possible to modify both technologies and tools at a local level to suit unique requirements and applications as these arise.

In the law-enforcement sphere related to wildlife crime, vital technology categories include surveillance, forensics (DNA, ballistics, digital), data capture/management/analysis, and more. Tools include information networks, investigative techniques, prosecution techniques, court-case monitoring, legislative options, and more.

The effective application of these technologies and tools requires capacity building within government, as well as the empowerment of individual staff to apply the technologies and tools as needed.

  • Government parameters to effectively implement the use of available technologies & tools
  • Funding to secure the latest technologies & tools & update these as required
  • Capacity building to ensure technologies & tools are used to best effect
  • Technologies & tools are only valuable if they can be applied by competent, dedicated personnel
  • Technologies & tools must be shared amongst all relevant stakeholders to ensure best application
  • Relationship building amongst personnel from all relevant agencies is important to ensure that technologies & tools are embraced by all relevant actors
  • Elitist attitudes to the use of technologies & tools are often counterproductive
  • The capacity to adapt technologies and tools to local needs & circumstances can be a game changer