ICCF-hosted discussion at U.S. Capitol underscores growing recognition of wildlife trafficking as a transnational security threat
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 23, 2026, Focused Conservation was honored to be invited by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) to participate in a Congressional briefing at the U.S. Capitol, an important recognition of the organization’s growing leadership in addressing the convergence of wildlife trafficking, transnational organized crime, and global security. As policymakers increasingly recognize that natural resource crime represents a strategic security challenge, Focused Conservation continues to help shape the conversation through intelligence-led operations, institutional capacity building, and international partnerships.
Hosted by ICCF at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, the briefing brought together policymakers, conservation leaders, and national security experts to examine how wildlife trafficking has evolved beyond a conservation challenge into a complex transnational threat that fuels corruption, weakens governance, finances criminal organizations, and undermines international stability.
Distinguished Panel of Experts
Representing Focused Conservation were William “Wim” Brown, Founder and CEO, who moderated the discussion, and Eric Stouch, Chief Operating Officer, who joined a distinguished panel that included Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and one of the world’s foremost experts on organized crime, illicit economies, and international security, as well as Kirsten Madison, Senior Vice President at BGR Group and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Brown and Stouch both bring extensive international investigative experience from their careers as former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, where they worked complex cases involving transnational criminal organizations, including narcotics trafficking networks and cartel-linked operations. This background informed their perspectives on the convergence of wildlife crime and broader illicit economies.
Dr. Felbab-Brown’s participation underscored the increasing recognition within national security and foreign policy communities that wildlife trafficking and other natural resource crimes represent strategic threats with implications far beyond conservation. Ms. Madison brought extensive experience in international security, rule of law, and transnational criminal policy, further reinforcing the cross-sector nature of the discussion.
Drawing on decades of investigative, diplomatic, and national security experience, the panel explored how strengthening law enforcement institutions, supporting frontline ranger capacity, and investing in trusted international partnerships can reduce wildlife trafficking while disrupting the criminal networks that drive corruption, exploit weak governance, and destabilize vulnerable regions.
The discussion reflected a growing consensus that lasting impact requires intelligence-led, cross-sector collaboration capable of addressing the broader illicit activities that enable these networks to thrive.
Introducing the Canopy Crimes Framework
During the briefing, Focused Conservation introduced its emerging Canopy Crimes Framework, which recognizes that wildlife trafficking rarely occurs in isolation. Instead, it is often interconnected with illegal logging, illicit mining, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, corruption, terrorist financing, and illicit financial networks, frequently operating within the same criminal networks.
Rather than addressing these threats individually, Focused Conservation emphasizes integrated, intelligence-led approaches designed to identify and disrupt the criminal organizations that exploit multiple illicit markets simultaneously.
“For too long, we’ve treated wildlife trafficking as an environmental issue when, in reality, it is a transnational organized crime problem with significant implications for economic stability and national security,” said William “Wim” Brown, Founder and CEO of Focused Conservation.
“The same criminal networks trafficking ivory, pangolin scales, great apes and timber are often involved in narcotics trafficking, illicit mining, human trafficking, corruption, and terrorist financing. If we continue addressing these crimes in isolation, we will never dismantle the networks behind them. That is why Focused Conservation is investing in intelligence-led partnerships and helping governments build the capacity to identify and disrupt these interconnected criminal organizations before they undermine regional stability and global security.”
Building Stronger Institutions Through the TERRA Initiative
The briefing also highlighted Focused Conservation’s TERRA Initiative (Targeting Emerging Resource Risks Activity), an innovative framework designed to strengthen partner nation institutions and address the gaps that allow organized criminal networks to thrive.
Rather than responding to individual trafficking cases, TERRA focuses on building investigative capacity, strengthening institutions, and fostering trusted partnerships that enable governments to identify, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal networks over the long term.
This approach complements Focused Conservation’s broader model, which combines intelligence-led operations, training, mentoring, and strategic partnerships to support governments addressing wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, illicit mining, and other forms of natural resource crime.
Conservation as a National Security Priority
Throughout the discussion, panelists reinforced a growing consensus across conservation and security communities that natural resource crime is no longer solely an environmental issue.
Wildlife trafficking is increasingly linked to corruption, illicit finance, narcotics trafficking, and other activities that undermine governance and regional stability as criminal networks expand across multiple illicit markets.
Focused Conservation’s participation in the Congressional briefing highlighted how intelligence-led partnerships, capacity building, and trusted law enforcement relationships can deliver lasting security outcomes while safeguarding wildlife and natural resources.
The strong engagement from policymakers on Capitol Hill throughout the week reinforced the need for more than just species protection, it requires strengthening institutions, supporting partner governments, and disrupting the criminal networks driving these crimes.
Strengthening Partnerships on Capitol Hill
Focused Conservation extends its sincere appreciation to Carolyn Weis and Dan Mahoney of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation for inviting the organization to participate in this important Congressional briefing and for hosting the team during a series of productive meetings on Capitol Hill.
ICCF’s leadership in convening members of Congress, congressional staff, conservation organizations, and national security professionals created a rare and highly effective forum to advance dialogue on the convergence of wildlife trafficking, transnational organized crime, and global security priorities.
Focused Conservation’s participation reflects the increasing recognition of its operational expertise at the intersection of wildlife crime and international security, and its unique role in supporting partner nations confronting complex, multi-layered criminal networks.
As governments continue to confront the expanding reach of transnational organized crime, Focused Conservation remains committed to supporting trusted law enforcement partnerships and helping dismantle the networks that exploit both people and natural resources.
“Conservation has entered a new era,” Brown added. “Its success will be defined less by individual species outcomes alone, and more by the strength of institutions, the effectiveness of partnerships, and our ability to disrupt the criminal networks driving these crimes. By supporting governments in confronting these challenges, we are advancing not only conservation goals, but also stability, security, and the rule of law for the future.”
Photo credit: Beus Photography
