Officials and others during the training on ‘combating wildlife crime and biodiversity conservation’ at the Conference Hall, Forest Colony, Dimapur held on March 5.
Dimapur, March 5 (MExN): A two-day training on ‘combating wildlife crime and biodiversity conservation’ for Forest and Police personnel began with 50 participants at the Conference Hall, Forest Colony, Dimapur on March 4 and March 5.
The training was jointly organised by Nagaland Forest Department, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India and Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB).
During the inaugural function, Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, YM Yollow Konyak highlighted the close association of human beings on forest, wildlife, biodiversity and nature. He also touched upon the existing scenario of man animal conflict in the State and need of awareness among all stakeholders for the cause of conservation. He expressed the need to adequately compensate the loss of property of human life for creating conducive atmosphere for conservation in the state. Yollow appealed to all participants to concentrate on learning from different resource persons of the programme and implement learning optimally.
Ved Pal Singh, IFS, Chief Wildlife Warden. Giving a brief background, Singh laid emphasis on capacity building of the frontline staff in terms of legal knowhow to tackle wildlife crime especially cross border trafficking of wildlife products. He also highlighted the importance of jointly working with other agencies especially police for augmenting the available resources.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, retired PCCF & HoFF, Nagaland and Chairman, State Biodiversity Board emphasised need for creating awareness among stakeholders for conservation of natural resources along with combating wildlife crimes.
Dev Prakash Bankhwal, retired PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, and the Team Leader WCS spoke on creating a sense of ownership towards natural resources and equipping the frontline staff to tackle wildlife crimes. He appealed for collective effort from all law enforcement agencies for combating transnational wildlife trafficking.
Dr Naeem Mustafa, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police spoke on financial implication in wildlife trade and gave background of Wildlife Crime Control Unit in Police Department. He assured assistance of the Police Department in curbing wildlife crime.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, Chairman, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board chaired the valedictory programme while K Vekato Chishi, ACP, Dimapur was the special invitee.
The trainees were imparted on Wildlife trafficking and its combating; Important provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Biodiversity Conservation; Engagement of communities in management of natural resources; Management of Human-Wild Animal conflict; Search and seizure in wildlife crimes; Identification of wildlife species and their parts in illegal trade; Simulation exercise on wildlife crime; Filing of court cases.
