2020 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards

The Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions or teams combating transboundary environmental crime. The Awards are given to individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate excellence and outstanding leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime. The thematic scope of the Awards covers any transboundary environmental crimes, such as illegal trade in wildlife, illegal trade in chemicals or waste, including plastic, all of which become increasingly significant in the COVID19 response and recovery era.

Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia & Royal Malaysia Police Taskforce) 

Category: Impact 

In 2019, Malaysia launched a special initiative to increase the protection of tigers - “Save Our Malaysian Tiger Campaign”. Under this campaign, Malaysia set up the Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK) taskforce to protect Malayan tigers from poachers and to increase patrols in protected areas of peninsular Malaysia. OBK has led to arrests of 87 wildlife criminals (49 foreign, 33 local), destruction of 460 wire snares and a total seizure valued at MYR 2.7 million (approximately US$670,000). OBK combined the forces of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia and the Royal Malaysia Police, who also worked closely with state agencies and non-governmental organizations. With the operation’s success, the taskforce has expanded geographical operations into Sabah and Sarawak in West Malaysia to further protect wildlife from environmental crime.  

Watch the The Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards video here

Warch the Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards 2020: Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah here