Capacity Building

Building Capacity To Curb Illegal Wildlife Trade

The ‘Capacity Building’ Programme of TRAFFIC India is a follow-up from a Training Needs Assessment meeting organized by TRAFFIC India in the month of March 2007. Representatives from various agencies that are working on wildlife trade related issues such as Wildlife Institute of India, CBI, ITBP, CITES Management Authority, Police, Forest Department, military intelligence, Customs and LNJN National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences had come together to identify the various gaps in curbing illegal wildlife trade in India. Lack of understanding among the enforcement agencies about the wildlife laws and its implementation was identified as one of the major gaps in wildlife enforcement. Click here to read the report.

TRAFFIC has identified ‘Capacity Building’ as one of the significant components of its overall strategy in India. Under this programme, TRAFFIC provides training and inputs to a diverse group of officials working on wildlife enforcement related issues. The programme aims to improve understanding amongst the enforcement agencies about wildlife laws and their implementation.
Illegal wildlife trade is a threat that transcends borders. It involves an array of species-both wild animals and plants that travel illegally from India to markets in other countries. Therefore, without the active co-operation of the neighbouring countries it would be very difficult to curb this trade. TRAFFIC, through its trans-border training programmes aims to bring together agencies of different countries with a view to help them enhance their skills for responding adequately to wildlife crime and trade related issues. Such workshops also help participants to share experiences and learn from each other.
The key objectives of the ‘Capacity Building’ programme of TRAFFIC India are:

To enhance awareness in order to mitigate illegal trade and poaching of wildlife.
To promote improved co-ordination and co-operation in combating wildlife crime.
To overcome the impediments to effective law enforcement.

The training programmes and modules are tailor-made keeping in mind the needs of diverse target groups. These programmes also enable TRAFFIC India to share knowledge about the new tools and technology that is required to combat the well armed poaching gangs and to break the wildlife trade nexus across regions.

An overview of the “Capacity building” workshops undertaken by TRAFFIC India since January 2007:

Indo-Bhutan ‘Wildlife Enforcement Training Workshop’:

TRAFFIC India with support from WWF-India, Bodoland Territorial Council and the Assam Forest Department organized an Indo-Bhutan ‘Wildlife Enforcement Training Workshop’ at Manas Tiger Reserve from 7 - 9 January 2008. The main purpose of this workshop was to enhance skills of the enforcement agencies that are working to curb illegal wildlife trade and also to improve cross-border co-operation and co-ordination between the two countries on such issues.

The participants included officials from the Manas Tiger Reserve and the various Forest Divisions of Assam in India. From Bhutan, there were officials from the Forest Divisions, Royal Manas National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and their Nature Conservation Division.

Training was imparted on the legal and technical aspects of fighting wildlife cases and curbing illegal wildlife trade. The modus of training involved case studies, group discussions and presentations. Mr. Sangay from the Nature Conservation Division-Bhutan, shared information about the nature and scale of wildlife trade issues in his country.

Indo-Nepal ‘Wildlife Enforcement Training Workshop’:

TRAFFIC India, WWF-India and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department organized a trans-border training programme at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve from 13 - 15 December 2007. The workshop was attended by officials from India’s Forest Department, Customs, Seema Suraksha Bal, Police and Special Task Force as well as by officials from Nepal’s Army and its Wildlife Department.

Besides highlighting the various issues involved in curbing illegal wildlife trade, the participants were also given an exposure in the use of technology to fight wildlife crime, such as the use of mine sweepers to detect animal traps in the forests.

Mr. Samir Sinha, Head-TRAFFIC India adds, “Such trans-border training workshops are essential for curbing illegal wildlife trade that extends beyond the physical borders of the country. These training programmes help the participants to understand enforcement issues across the border and undertake joint operations whenever necessary”.

Workshops on 'Combating illegal wildlife trade with a focus on Asian Big Cats':

TRAFFIC India organized four workshops on 'Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade with a focus on Asian Big Cats' in the year 2007. These were held in Gangtok, Sikkim on 21-22 May 2007; at Guwahati, Assam on 24-25 May 2007; at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan on 13-14 July 2007 and in Mudumulai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu on 27- 28 July 2007. These workshops were organized in association with the respective State Forest Departments.

Workshop at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

TRAFFIC India strives to bring together different agencies, to work together on issues related to illegal wildlife trade. Such workshops provide a platform for participants to enhance their skills and develop collaborative strategies to curb illegal wildlife trade. The response to these workshops has been overwhelming. Nearly 300 officials have been trained in these workshops.

The key trainers for the ‘Capacity Building’ workshops are – senior faculty members of the Wildlife Institute of India, lawyers from Hon’ble Supreme Court and High Court, senior Forest Officials and TRAFFIC India staff.