{"id":5837,"date":"2020-12-28T16:36:58","date_gmt":"2020-12-28T21:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/natureforall.global\/es\/?p=5837"},"modified":"2020-12-29T13:09:37","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T18:09:37","slug":"the-global-wildlife-whistleblower-program-global","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/natureforall.global\/es\/the-global-wildlife-whistleblower-program-global\/","title":{"rendered":"The Global Wildlife Whistleblower Program (Global)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wildlife crime whistleblowers can dismantle the wildlife trafficking networks that threaten global biodiversity. Insiders have the potential to reverse the extinction crisis.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Goal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The NWC seeks to transform dormant whistleblower provisions in U.S. wildlife protection laws, and use existing whistleblower programs, to facilitate effective enforcement of the law and deter wildlife traffickers.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whistleblowers have been recognized for their role in fighting fraud and corruption since the False Claims Act was passed in 1863. In 2015, National Whistleblower Center Executive Director\u00a0Stephen Kohn<\/a>, discovered whistleblower\u00a0reward provisions in the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act<\/a>. After learning that these provisions were\u00a0not being utilized by the agencies empowered with their implementation<\/a>\u00a0(the Departments of Interior, Commerce, Treasury, and Agriculture), the NWC embarked on a mission to empower wildlife crime whistleblowers as a global force to combat the extinction crisis.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0NWC\u2019s Global Wildlife Whistleblower Program<\/a>\u00a0strives to develop organizational support for whistleblowers everywhere who report wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing to the appropriate U.S. authorities. This entails advocating for the creation of wildlife whistleblower programs within the agencies responsible for enforcing wildlife protection laws, as well as utilizing existing whistleblower programs in the prevention, detection, and prosecution of wildlife crime.<\/p>\n

The NWC is also working with conservation and environmental protection stakeholders to educate the public about monetary rewards for reporting wildlife trafficking. By working with NGOs all over the world, NWC hopes to establish the relationships and trust with local communities to encourage potential whistleblowers to confidentially report information on wildlife trafficking. Additionally, the NWC has created the first\u00a0Wildlife Whistleblower Attorney Referral Service<\/a>\u2014connecting potential wildlife whistleblowers with legal representation.<\/p>\n

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The Solution<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Through public outreach, research, and client representation, the NWC is making big strides in activating wildlife crime whistleblowers as a new approach to fighting global wildlife trafficking and other wildlife crimes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Public outreach:<\/strong>\u00a0A variety of tools such as\u00a0social media<\/a>, email,\u00a0webinars<\/a>, radio broadcasts, and\u00a0blog posts<\/a>\u00a0have been used to inform the public about the opportunity to receive a reward for blowing the whistle on wildlife crime. The NWC created an online petition to enable members of the public to show their support for creating an office where wildlife crime whistleblowers can report information and apply for whistleblower rewards under U.S. wildlife protection laws, and over 20,000 supporters have already signed on.<\/p>\n

Research:<\/strong>\u00a0NWC staff members have conducted in-depth research into the history behind the wildlife protection law whistleblower provisions. This research has been shared with government agencies, elected officials, and other stakeholders to demonstrate longstanding recognition of the value of engaging whistleblowers when enforcing wildlife protection laws.<\/p>\n

Client representation:<\/strong>\u00a0The NWC has helped a number of clients develop cases concerning trafficking activities in Vietnam, Uganda, Honduras, and Tanzania, among others. NWC is also recruiting attorneys to build a network of lawyers ready to represent wildlife whistleblowers. Additionally, the NWC operates several technology applications that facilitate secure reporting by wildlife whistleblowers.<\/p>\n

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The Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n