WEMS highlighted on Harvard Gazzette
Read how UNU-IAS's Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) will be enhanced through its partnership with Harvard University's open-source online application, WorldMap, in the Harvard Gazette. WEMS is an environmental governance and policy tool that aims to monitor and protect wild fauna and flora from illegal wildlife trade. The project began in 2011 as a joint effort carried out by UNU, the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente and the Lusaka Agreement Task Force.
UNU-IAS and Lusaka Agreement to present WEMS-Africa at the 23rd INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group Meeting
Date: 13th -17th February 2012
Venue: Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Title 
Enhancement of wildlife-enforcement information sharing, governance and policy research through the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System – WEMS-Africa: A case study.
Presenters
Mr. Karl Karugaba (Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Nairobi, Kenya)
Mr. Remi Chandran (Visiting Research Fellow (UNU-IAS) & PhD Researcher, ITC-University of Twente, Netherlands)
Abstract
On 18th July 2011, Dr. Noah Wekesa, the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife of Kenya officially launched the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) in Africa to enable coordinated information sharing between the member states of the Lusaka Agreement. This was also for the first time East African wildlife enforcement units were connected digitally and across national borders through a common Geospatial information sharing platform. This joint presentation from the project partners will cover the various aspects which lead to the success of the implementation process and will touch upon important steps taken in governance of such a system which enables law enforcement agencies to come together.
In the first part of the presentation, Mr. Karl Karugaba of Lusaka Agreement will introduce the important policy steps taken to bridge African countries together through WEMS-Africa. This will be followed by a briefing by Remi Chandran on the various models on governance tested to find the best mechanism for sharing information between countries. Here the integration of ICT requirements into the various governance paradigms will also be explained. The importance of research using wildlife crime data generated through WEMS Africa will also be highlighted and will demonstrate how it aids our understanding on the driving factors that influence illegal trade. The presentation will conclude with a short demonstration of WEMS-Africa.
Harvard’s Center for Geographic Analysis and UNU-IAS collaborate to enhance spatial dimensions of Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System
The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) and the Center for Geographic Analysis (CGA) at Harvard University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at cooperation and collaboration on advancing technologies for online spatial data sharing and web mapping services regarding the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS). WEMS, a database of wildlife crime developed by UNU, is now being used to support the Lusaka Agreement on Cooperative Enforcement operations directed at illegal trade in flora and fauna.
Effective from 1 October 2011, the agreement facilitates the incorporation of Harvard CGA’s WorldMap online database and mapping portal into WEMS. The integration of this rich source of spatial data into the cloud-based information-sharing platform developed by United Nations University Campus Computing Centre will give the users of WEMS unprecedented analytical power to understand patterns in wildlife crime, not just in terms of location but in concert with the range of socio-economic data present in WorldMap.
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REPORT OF REGIONAL TRAINING/REVIEW WORKSHOP ON WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT MONITORING SYSTEM – WEMS
(NAIROBI, 13th - 14th OCTOBER 2011)
Introduction
LATF in collaboration with UNU-Japan and the ITC – University – Twente (the Netherlands) held the first training workshop on WEMS in May 2011 as a first step in implementation of the WEMS at the Lusaka Agreement Task Force and the Lusaka Agreement Member States.
The objective of the workshop organized by LATF at the seat of the Task Force on 13th and 14th October 2011 was to review as well as share expereinces in implementation of WEMS and to train new officers nominated by the Member States.
The workshop was opened by the Director LATF Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi. Present at the opening session was UNEP Director’s representative Dr. Margaret M. Oduk who in her few remarks recognized the importance of the WEMS initiative.
Participants, with Dr. Margaret Oduk-UNEP representative and Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi. Director LATF
Participants and Resource Persons
The WEMS training/review workshop had 11 participants (list attached) from three LA Parties (Republics o Congo,Kenya and Tanzania). Two LATF staff were also among the participants. Mr. Khoi Nguyen, the software engineer was the resource person.
Participants, with N.V Khoi, WEMS R&D Engineer and Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi, Director LATF
Actual Training/Review
The participants had a chance to go through the WEMS review presented by the resource person through a PowerPoint presentation, during which the participants were given time to comment, ask or clarify any issues.
In order to familiarize new nominees with the system, the resource person took participants through the system which included keying in actual data provided by LATF. This proved to be of importance especially to the new participants and also helped in refreshing the already trained officers.
Conclusion
LATF highly appreciates all parties that contributed to the success attained during the workshop and encourages the Member States to make use of the system, work with it to achieve the best results and identify any challenges that may need specific attention. LATF appreciates the UNEP for the requisite financial support that facilitated the training, KWS for providing the venue and all the participants for taking part in this important workshop.
Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System - 2nd Regional Training Workshop
(13th to 14th October 2011)
Venue: Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi, Kenya
The 2nd Regional Training Workshop on Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) involving 4 pilot countries in East Africa will be held in Nairobi from 13th to 14th October 2011. The purpose of the workshop is to evaluate and access the strength and capacity of national focal persons involved in wildlife enforcement, information compilation and analysis. The meeting will be presided by Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi the Director of Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), and Mr. Bakery Kante, Director of Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, United Nations Environmental Programme.
Programme
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Day I – 13TH October 2011
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Time
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Activity
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Responsible Officer
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0900hrs – 0930hrs
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Registration
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Ms. Habiba Wato, Communication Officer (LATF)
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0930hrs- 1000hrs
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Opening remarks
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Mr. Alio, Manager-WEMS-Africa
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1000hrs – 1020hrs
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Opening of the workshop
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Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi (Director, LATF)
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1020hrs – 1040hrs
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Felicitation Speech - UNEP
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Mr. Bakary Kante, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC), UNEP
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Tea Break
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1120hrs-1200hrs
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Overview of Wildlfe Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS)
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Mr. Khoi Nguyen, WEMS Software Engineer
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1200hrs – 1300hrs
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Questions
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All
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Lunch Break
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1400hrs – 1600hrs
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Discussion Session
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All
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Day II – 14TH October 2011
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930hrs -1020hrs
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Evaluation of Data
Follow up from 1st WEMS workshop
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All
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Tea Break
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1120hrs – 1300hrs
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Discussion of challenges, modifications and way forward
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All
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Lunch Break
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1400hrs – 1440hrs
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Closing the training
Remarks by representatives
Remarks by expert
Remarks by WEMS Manager
Closing of the workshop by Director LATF
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Kenya, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda
Mr. Khoi Nguyen
Mr. Alio
Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi (Director)
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Africa's War Against Wildlife Crime Continues
The fight against illicit wildlife trade in Africa received a significant boost on 18 July, with the launch of the region’s first-ever transboundary information system on wildlife crime, known as Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS), in Nairobi, Kenya. Developed by the United Nations University (UNU), WEMS will strengthen participating countries’ capacity to track, apprehend and deter smugglers by establishing a regional information-sharing platform.
Speaking at the inauguration event, Kenya’s Minister for Forestry and Wildlife, Dr. Noah Wekesa, said WEMS will “mark a new beginning in the history of Africa, where we show the world an example of good governance in Africa”.
A flagship project of UNU Institute of Advance Studies (UNU-IAS), WEMS is the culmination of seven years of interdisciplinary field research. It provides a comprehensive system for monitoring, analysing and reporting illicit wildlife seizures, identifying transit routes and tracing contraband back to its source-point.
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LAUNCH OF WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT MONITORING SYSTEM
The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), in partnership 
with the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) and the University of Twente, will launch the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) on 18 July in Nairobi, Kenya. The aim is to help participating African countries fight transnational illicit wildlife trade by strengthening their information-sharing capacity. The detailed proramme for the event is as follows:
PROGRAMME:
VENUE: Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Date: 18th July 2011
Time: 17:45hrs Arrival of Guests
1800hrs Remarks
- Welcoming by the Director, Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi
- Director, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Dr. Julius Kipng’etich
- Representative of ITC- University of Twente- Netherlands, Dr Paul Van Dijk
- Vice Rector United Nations University-Japan, Prof. G. Parayil
Tea break
- Presentation of Books to KWS Field Training School , Manyani
- Remarks by Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa MP Minister for Forestry and Wildlife of the Republic of Kenya
- Remarks by Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu MP Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of the Republic of Uganda, Rapporteur of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council
- Speech by Hon. Ezekiel Maige MP, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism of the United Republic of Tanzania and President of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council
Launching Ceremony:
- Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS-Africa)
- African Elephant Law Enforcement Special Account (AELESA) and presentation of Donations and Pledges.
WEMS (Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System)
WEMS is an application of ICT to support the combat of transboundary wildlife trafficking, 
using both non-spatial and spatial data gathered through a national data compilation and analysis architecture. The operational framework aims to enhance the information sharing, gathering and analysis capabilities of wildlife trade monitoring networks.
More information is available in the WEMS handbook, which explains the conceptual framework and lays out the implementation directions.
The Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) is developed by the United Nations University - Campus Computing Centre under the auspices of the United Nations University - Institute of Advanced Studies, and supported by ESRI Corporation.
WEMS Training Workshop
The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) in collaboration with the United Nations University and the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente organized a regional training on Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS). The training drew participants from Parties to the Lusaka Agreement at the headquarters of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Nairobi, Kenya from May 23 to May 25, 2011. The regional training was designed to equip nominated trainees with skills, techniques and knowledge required for implementing WEMS in the member countries.
Mr. Remi Chandran of the University of Twente gave introductory remarks in the opening ceremony and led a 3-day training workshop on WEMS.
Dr. Ng Chong of the United Nations University presented a talk entitled "United Nations Cloud for the Advancement of Information Ecosystem in Africa with a Special Focus on Wildlife Enforcement".
Excerpt of opening remarks by Dr. Ng Chong - "... information is the most important resource in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. Cooperation among all sectors and agencies at the local and global levels forms the bedrock of the sustainable information flow that is needed to connect the dots ...".
Related links:
Opening programme
Briefing on Regional Training on Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System
WEMS documentation
