Enforcement Challenges

Low community engagement reduces the ability of wildlife enforcement agencies to detect, prevent, and deter wildlife crime. In the Caribbean, many communities have limited awareness of wildlife laws, the impacts of wildlife trafficking, or the role they can play in enforcement. A lack of trust in authorities, combined with economic dependence on activities linked to illegal wildlife trade, can discourage reporting and limit cooperation with enforcement efforts.

This disengagement undermines the effectiveness of wildlife enforcement by cutting off vital sources of information and community-based monitoring. When residents are not empowered or motivated to participate, enforcement agencies lose access to early warnings about illegal hunting, trafficking, or other illicit activities. This can allow wildlife crime to persist unchecked, further damaging biodiversity, eroding the rule of law, and weakening the socio-economic stability of affected communities.

Improving community engagement requires sustained outreach, transparent communication, and the creation of incentives for public participation. Education campaigns, community-based surveillance initiatives, and partnerships with local organisations can help build trust and align conservation goals with community interests. By involving local residents as active partners in wildlife enforcement, the Caribbean can expand its capacity to detect and disrupt wildlife crime at the grassroots level.