Josefina L. de Leon, former chief of the Wildlife Resources Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was one of the awardees of the prestigious Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The award, presented during the 18th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP18) by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), honors individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in combatting wildlife crime.

CITES secretary-general Ivonne Higuero presided over the ceremony.

De Leon played a critical role in strengthening wildlife law enforcement in the Philippines by creating standards and protocols for law enforcement officials to implement the wildlife laws, along with developing a framework for the country to combat illegal activities against wildlife through 2028.

De Leon also established the Operation Group on Ivory. From 2010 to 2018, the group’s efforts led to a total of 230 multi-agency operations, resulting in the confiscation of 36,000 specimens of both CITES and non-CITES listed species and the filing of 114 criminal complaints or cases.

De Leon’s “Stop Illegal Wildlife Trade” campaign in air and sea ports included seminars on wildlife trade issues.

“The importance of efforts to combat wildlife crime cannot be understated,” said AWI president Cathy Liss. “Those honored for their superlative efforts, including 16 rangers who died in the line of duty, should be recognized worldwide for their dedication to saving the unique biodiversity of this planet from wildlife criminals who steal wildlife from all of us.”

Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo, was slated to host the event from 23 May t0 3 June but the it was indefinitely postponed in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts that struck a series of churches and hotels in Colombo and surrounding areas on 21 April, killing 258.