Publication

NAWEG

Making a Difference for Wildlife

Description

“When Canada, Mexico, and the United States strengthened economic ties through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), they also pledged to undertake a new environmental partnership. In 1993, the three nations signed the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and created the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Among the objectives of the NAAEC is the building of regional cooperation for the conservation, protection and enhancement of the environment.The NAAEC also commits the Parties to the effective enforcement of their respective environmental laws, including those protecting wild flora and fauna.

Responding to these commitments, the CEC, in 1995, established an Enforcement Cooperation Program to provide a forum for regional cooperation, and to exchange expertise, build enforcement capacity and explore alternative approaches to effective enforcement.The Council of the CEC constituted a North American Working Group on Environmental Enforcement and Compliance Cooperation (EWG) to serve as this forum for regional cooperation.The NAWEG participates as a member of the EWG; it provides guidance in identifying priorities for regional cooperation in work to protect wildlife across the continent.”

Additional Information