Training on enforcement of wildlife laws in Nagaland underway

Dimapur, March 11 (EMN): The two-day training course on Enforcement of Wildlife Laws in Nagaland began at the forest office complex, Dimapur on Monday, March 11. The course, which will conclude on March 12, is organised by Nagaland forest department in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (NGO).

Jamir, CF (Publicity and Training) chaired the inaugural programme and briefed the background of wildlife crime scenario in Nagaland on the first day of the course, according to an update issued by Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, Satya Prakash Tripathi.

Additional deputy commissioner of police, (Crime) Dimapur T. Rele Aye appreciated the department for taking the effort to organise the training course to update the knowledge of foresters for filing wildlife crime cases. While emphasising on the need for a joint training for forest officers and police officers, he informed that there was only one case of killing of tiger in self-defense in Medziphema village in February 2016.

Even as he recalled his childhood in Zunheboto when hunting was a socially acceptable practice and meat of wild animals was available in plenty, he said that there is change of perception in the minds of people. Citing Sukhai village in Zunheboto district, which has declared community conservation area with other neighbouring villages, he said people are coming forward for conservation. He also expressed the need for creating awareness on preserving wildlife.

Principal Secretary to the government of Nagaland, department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, L. Kire, IFS, stated that the mindset of people has changed during the last 5-6 years regarding protection and conservation of forest and wildlife.” He asked the gathering to learn how to register a case against an offender under different sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He also appreciated the efforts of the Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust led by Bano Haralu for its role in conservation of wildlife   in general and Amur falcons in particular.

Satya Prakash Tripathi, IFS, PCCF & HoFF & CWLW, Nagaland highlighted the historical background of consumption of wildlife meat by the people and difficulties in implementing the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in his keynote address. He also emphasised on the need of taking of confidence of people and helping them to declare their community conservation areas into community reserve. While appreciating the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Wildlife Conservation Society, Bangalore for taking up the training course, he stated that trainees will benefit from the course.

Dev Prakash Bankhwal, IFS PCCF (Rtd), Assam and Regional Head of Wildlife Conservation Society, North Eastern Region, stressed on the importance of forest and wildlife for human survival, asserting every species has a crucial role in an ecosystem. He stated that we have to adjust ourselves within natural laws which are fixed and cannot be changed.

Managing director of Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust Bano Haralu, emphasised on the need of regular interaction between field officers and the public on conservation. She highlighted on the “need of active participation of women in all activities related to forest and wildlife” and requested the forest department to publish document in vernacular dialect so that the people can understand better.