About Us
The European Wildlife Forensic Network (EWFN) is a growing community of professionals dedicated to strengthening the role of forensic science in the protection of wildlife and enforcement of environmental law across Europe (and beyond). Developed through the Nature-FIRST and Wildlife Forensic Toolkit projects, EWFN aims to support conservation by fostering collaboration, exchanging knowledge and skills, and promoting high standards in wildlife forensic practice.
Our network brings together rangers, students, forensic scientists, conservationists, law enforcement, and policymakers engaged in tackling wildlife crime. This includes issues such as illegal trade, poaching, habitat destruction, and species trafficking. By encouraging peer-to-peer exchange and multidisciplinary cooperation, we help ensure that forensic evidence is applied effectively in efforts to combat environmental crime.
We believe science-based, collaborative approaches are essential for preserving biodiversity. Through knowledge sharing, training, and active engagement, EWFN supports a more connected and coordinated response to wildlife crime across the region.
VISION
We envision a world where wildlife crime is effectively addressed through a strong, connected, and widely supported forensic framework. A world in which wildlife forensic science is a trusted, accessible, and routinely applied tool for protecting biodiversity, advancing justice, and responding to environmental crime across diverse regions and contexts. We aim to build a future where professionals from rangers in the field to scientists in the lab collaborate across borders to safeguard nature.
MISSION
Our mission is to bring together a diverse community of professionals engaged in wildlife forensics to share knowledge, exchange skills, and learn from one another. Rooted in Europe but open to global participation, we promote peer-to-peer collaboration, scientific integrity, and practical innovation. By enabling cooperation across disciplines and regions, we help ensure that wildlife crime is taken seriously and addressed with the most effective tools available.
Sustainable Development Goals
Our actions support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Especially:
Our partners
