ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) has earned prestigious international recognition after being named Best in Asia for Combating Wildlife Poaching at the Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEEE) 2024–2025, organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on Friday, October 17, 2025.
The award ceremony took place at the Center of Intelligence, Directorate General of Law Enforcement, Ministry of Forestry, at the Manggala Wanabakti Building in Jakarta.
Rasio Ridho Sani, Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at the Ministry of Environment and Environmental Management Agency, represented Indonesia at the event.
Ujung Kulon National Park received the award in the “IMPACT” category, recognizing the outstanding efforts of its Operational Task Force in uncovering and prosecuting wildlife poaching cases, particularly involving the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) — one of the rarest species on Earth.
Head of Ujung Kulon National Park, Ardi Andono, expressed his pride and gratitude for this global acknowledgment.
“This award reflects the dedication and collaboration of all TNUK personnel, supported by the Directorate General of Law Enforcement, the Indonesian National Police, the Armed Forces, the District Attorney’s Office, the Pandeglang District Court, and local communities. We hope this recognition strengthens our resolve to remain vigilant against all forms of threats, especially poaching within the park,” he said.
The AEEE 2024–2025 award reaffirms Ujung Kulon National Park’s leading role in Asia and beyond in safeguarding biodiversity and enforcing environmental law. It also underscores Indonesia’s strong commitment to protecting the remaining population of Javan rhinos, now found only in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The award ceremony was held virtually via webinar, opened by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero and moderated by Sallie Yang from UNEP. The AEEE initiative is jointly organized by UNEP and several leading international bodies, including:
INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization)
The Secretariat of the Basel Convention
The Secretariat of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
The Ozone Secretariat for the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
The World Bank Global Wildlife Programme, and
The World Customs Organization (WCO)
This year’s awardees include representatives from Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, India, Shanghai, and Singapore.
Ujung Kulon National Park’s achievement serves as a powerful symbol of Indonesia’s leadership in environmental protection, showcasing how strong collaboration, law enforcement, and community engagement can successfully combat wildlife crime and preserve Asia’s irreplaceable biodiversity. (AT Network)
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