GUWAHATI, Dec 30 – With pressure mounting from the highest levels, new moves to curb poaching and illegal trade in wildlife are being planned by the State Forest Department, which would involve enhanced support from several government agencies including the Army and paramilitary forces. The objective is to make wildlife crime more identifiable, and to prosecute the perpetrators in an effective way, based on gathering and sharing of intelligence that is actionable.
In a meet held in the city today, senior officials from the Forest Department, WWF, TRAFFIC India, the Army, BSF, CISF, the Customs Department, and intelligence bureau deliberated on how better co-operation among the agencies could lead to tackling the menace.
In recent years, trade in wildlife has multiplied in India, and now focus has sharpened on protecting the biodiversity rich areas such as Northeast and Western Ghats. Today’s meet acquires more importance with credible intelligence indicating that the illegal trade could shoot up in the next two months due to growing demands in the international market.
Convening the meeting, SS Rao, Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), who has been named as the nodal officer Assam by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, spelled out the prevailing situation in the state and revealed emerging threats. New trends in poaching and trade in wildlife were being observed, including killing of elephants for ivory and meat. The use of more sophisticated weapons like assault rifles was another dimension of the changing scenario.
He reasoned that with resources being limited with the Forest Department it was imperative that collaboration with other agencies became the basis of a more effective strategy. Rao was hopeful that the select agencies working in tandem with the Forest Department could eventually lead to better conservation of a range of flora and fauna and not just of Schedule One species.
Representatives from the Army and BSF, expressed their intent to support the new initiatives, considering the fact that many poachers and traders in wildlife were essentially working against national interest. Some of those maintained links with extremist outfits, others were violators of the Arms Act, or were involved in money laundering activity.
An official from the SSB revealed that the agency was active in thwarting smuggling in the Indo-Bhutan border and had also apprehended smuggled wildlife organs from time to time.
Samir Sinha, head of TRAFFIC India referred to the Wildlife Protection Act and mentioned some of its provisions to apprehend criminals involved in the wildlife trade. He agreed that enhanced communication and co-operation between different agencies would definitely make a positive difference.
Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), DM Singh, briefed the participants about the requirements from the Forest Department and said that robust linkages would help identification, tracking and detention of those involved in the illegal trade. Both backward and forward linkages would enable seamless flow of information leading to lowering of crimes.
Some of the views emanating from the participants confirmed apprehensions that the police generally did not treat wildlife crimes with due seriousness, sending a wrong message to those involved. The need to provide better information and training to police personnel was therefore mooted.
A senior official of the Forest Department, who wished not to be named, told The Assam Tribune that the new moves would eventually help reduce poaching and trade in wildlife in Assam. He felt that help from Customs and the Army, in particular, would add necessary thrust to combat the illegal acts which could decimate a range of endangered species of flora and fauna.
