TRAFFIC India’s capacity-building programme is meant for enforcement agencies such as forest departments, police, customs, border security forces etc and aims to help improve their knowledge and skills on various aspects of wildlife law enforcement in India.
The programme is conducted by trained experts from various fields of wildlife conservation and law enforcement in India such as the Department of Forensic Sciences, WII (Wildlife Institute of India); CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation); Supreme Court; Delhi High Court, WCCB (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau); and others.
The broad objectives of this programme are:
- To enhance awareness in order to mitigate illegal trade and poaching of wildlife.
- To promote improved co-ordination and co-operation for combating wildlife crime.
- To overcome the impediments to effective law enforcement.
Key audiences for capacity-building programme:
- Forest department, police, customs, SSB and other similar law enforcement agencies: The training programmes and modules are tailor-made keeping in mind the needs of diverse target groups, though common subjects include wildlife forensics; role of CITES; evaluating scene of wildlife crime; setting up and handling information networks; conducting search and seizure; developing documentation that leads to successful prosecution in a court of law and more. These programmes also enable TRAFFIC India to share knowledge about the new tools and technology that is required to combat poaching gangs and to break the wildlife trade nexus across regions. Nearly 2200 officials have been trained so far under this programme through over 50 workshops.
- Judiciary: TRAFFIC India also conducts specialized orientation programme on wildlife conservation for the Judiciary across the country. The main purpose of this is to generate interest, enhance knowledge on wildlife laws and gain support of the Judiciary. This programme has been conducted in the states of Bangalore, Assam, Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram and has reached out to nearly 500 judicial officers in the region.
- Enforcement agencies in bordering countries: Since illegal wildlife trade is a threat that transcends borders, it is necessary to secure active co-operation of the neighbouring countries to curb this trade. TRAFFIC, through its transborder training programmes brings together such agencies of different countries with a view to help them enhance their skills required to respond adequately to wildlife crime and trade related issues. Transborder training programmes have been conducted in Dehradun, Dudhwa, Balrampur for the officials of India and Nepal and in Manas for the officials of India and Bhutan.
