Introducing the CAR-WEN Initiative and Website

Activities
Written By the CAR-WEN Team

Welcome to the online home of the Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAR-WEN) Working Group.

Our website launch coincides with the biennial Conference of Parties (COP) to the Cartagena Convention and associated biennial COP to the SPAW Protocol. It was through this convention’s SPAW Protocol that the CAR-WEN first took shape in 2014, making this a fitting moment to reaffirm our commitment to regional cooperation. For us, this launch connects the past to the present, and reminds us that the same forum that gave rise to this initiative continues to strengthen our collective response to wildlife crime today.

In our first web log, we offer a brief overview of our initiative, the website, and what you can expect in the future.

Introducing the Initiative

Many regions have established regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) to tackle wildlife crime, but the Caribbean has not yet benefited from such a framework. The CAR-WEN Working Group was created to correct this, by laying the foundation for a fully formalised network that can unite governments, enforcement agencies, and civil society across the Wider Caribbean.

For a brief history, the Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network initiative was first launched in 2014, following a formal recommendation from the Parties to the SPAW Protocol. This led to several multilateral support workshops, the development of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and the formation of the first working group. However, emerging challenges, including leadership turnover, the COVID-19 pandemic, and shifts in international funding, led the initiative and its working group to an indefinite pause.

In December 2022, however, momentum returned. At the 4th Global Meeting of WENs in Panama City, the delegations of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and The Bahamas agreed to re-launch the initiative with the support of interested civil society organisations, including SII, AWI, and Lightkeepers. 

Today, the CAR-WEN Working Group has grown into a regional movement for change across the Wider Caribbean. Over 25 governments now meet regularly with a clear operational framework, including a draft Memorandum of Understanding and network strategic plan. With this structure in place and momentum building, we are optimistic about the future of a fully established Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network.

Should you wish to know more about our initiative, we invite you to review our website in greater detail or take a look at our briefing paper for the SPAW Protocol COP13. 

Key Website Features

This new website is designed to serve as a hub where governments, partners, and the wider public can connect, learn, and follow our collective efforts to strengthen wildlife enforcement across the Caribbean. Each section offers a window into a different aspect of the Working Group’s mission:

  • About – An overview of who we are and how we operate, including our mission and history, leadership, government members, operational framework, and partnerships.

  • Activities – Details on the strategies guiding our work, from network facilitation and formalisation to pilot projects, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement.

  • Issues – A closer look at the wildlife crimes, convergent crimes, and enforcement challenges shaping the region, along with strategies to respond.

  • Resources – Access to practical tools and platforms such as the CAR-WEN Library, Rapid Assessment Toolkit, Biodiversity Manager Platform, and Project Idea Bank.

  • News – Updates and announcements, including blogs, press releases, and an events calendar.

  • Join – Opportunities for governments, civil society, advisers, partners, and observers to participate in and support the network.

Together, these sections provide both orientation and depth, reflecting the breadth of CAR-WEN’s mandate and the collaborative model that underpins it. We also recognise the inspiration provided by other regional wildlife enforcement networks, including the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) and South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), whose websites have helped shape our own approach.

Looking Ahead

The CAR-WEN Working Group continues its core activities, meeting as a full membership every two months and as a leadership team in the months between. Alongside these meetings, we are developing pilot projects, practical tools, and project plans designed to strengthen wildlife enforcement across the region. We look forward to sharing these initiatives through this website as they progress.

In terms of content production, you can expect one to two blogs per month. To keep updated, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, where we will share new posts and announcements.

Looking further ahead, we aim to expand this website into a richer resource hub, with additional tools, project information, and language functionality in Spanish and French to better serve our diverse Caribbean communities.

Stay Connected

We invite you to explore the site, learn more about our mission, and follow the issues that matter most for Caribbean wildlife enforcement and management communities. 

To keep up with future updates, check back here regularly or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Finally, if you are interested in supporting or engaging with the CAR-WEN Working Group, we welcome you to contact us directly.

the CAR-WEN Team