Online workshop on physical inspection of timber shipments in the Lower Mekong Region hosted by the CITES Secretariat
The Lower Mekong Region is home to around 100 CITES-listed tree species. These include CITES Appendix-II timber-producing species of rosewoods (genus Dalbergia), yew trees (genus Taxus spp.), and agarwood (genus Aquilaria), some of which are highly valuable for international trade.
This has made some of these species a target for illegal logging and trafficking. Local enforcement authorities and Customs agencies are in the front lines of the battle against wildlife crime. They must be equipped with the best knowledge and tools available to detect and deter trafficking, notably by performing inspections on suspicious shipments.
From 25 to 29 October 2021, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) hosted an online workshop on physical inspection of timber shipments in the Lower Mekong Region.
