Join the European Wildlife Forensic Network: Enhancing Wildlife Protection Through Forensic Science

As part of the Nature FIRST, a project funded by Horizon Europe, the European Wildlife Forensic Network is revolutionizing the fight against wildlife crime by integrating forensic science into conservation efforts. This initiative aims to create a dynamic and collaborative platform for law enforcement, conservation organizations, and scientists, among others, to exchange forensic knowledge and enhance their capacity to detect and prosecute wildlife crimes.

The network focuses on multiple stakeholders, including policy-makers, NGOs, and local communities, to strengthen wildlife crime investigations and improve grassroots conservation efforts. By offering specialized training, workshops, and an innovative "Train-the-Trainer" program, the initiative ensures that forensic techniques are widely adopted, ensuring that wildlife protection practices remain scientifically backed and legally sound.

One of the key strategies is to build partnerships with universities and forensic laboratories, including Staffordshire University and the Sustainable Scale Up Foundation (SSF), to develop cutting-edge forensic methodologies. These techniques are tested in real-world scenarios, with an emphasis on providing mobile forensic tools for field investigators, ensuring that regions with limited infrastructure can still effectively tackle wildlife crime.

The European Wildlife Forensic Network is an essential step forward in combating wildlife crime with the power of science and collaboration. For more details on the launch and to stay updated, sign up for our newsletter and join this critical movement to protect wildlife around the world.