Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Dec, 3: Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with Wildlife Department Ladakh and UNDP conducted a multiagency workshop on Prevention of Illegal Wildlife Trade in Ladakh region. The workshop was conducted under GoI-UNDP-GEF Secure Himalayas Project. Several officers from various enforcement agencies like WCCB, Indian Army, ITBP, Police Department, Forest Department, officers from key stakeholder agencies like Postal Department, Airport Authority, Excise Department and representatives of local level NGOs attended the workshop.
Mentioning about the objective of the workshop, Jose Louies, Chief and Dy. Director WCCD, WTI said that the purpose of the workshop is to sensitise all enforcement agencies including army to stop illegal wildlife trade crime by bringing all stakeholder on common platforms.
Sajid Sultan Regional Wildlife Warden, Ladakh gave an inaugural talk and explained the wildlife crime scenario in the region.
Preetpal Singh, CCF, Ladakh emphasized the need of cooperation among various stakeholder agencies to combat wildlife crime. He also suggested to conduct such workshop in wildlife areas such as Changthang to include more stakeholders.
Regional Deputy Director, North Region of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), H.V.Girisha explained the working and functioning of WCCD and how interagency corporation can lead to successful interception on wildlife crime.
WTI team comprising of Riyaz Ahmad and Marifatul Haq presented the findings of their study related to wildlife crime scenario in Ladakh.
During the group discussion various issues were discussed such as wildlife cases not reaching to logical conclusion due to witness turning hostile in court and exploitation of wild herbs at large scale for commercial purpose. Wildlife Department appreciated local supports in wildlife crimes by informing them on time and various ways to address the gap between working of various agencies as well as methods to efficiently combat wildlife crime in the region were also discussed. The major points that came up were sensitization of staff from Indian Army, ITBP as well as capacity building of field staff from forest and Wildlife Department.
Chief Executive Councillor, Gyal P Wangyal who attended the final session of the workshop emphasized on the need for wildlife crime enforcement in the Ladakh region due to its unique and endemic flora and fauna. He said that such workshops need to be conducted in future so as to combat and counter wildlife crime and illegal trade in the region. He urged all the stakeholders to put more efforts to safeguard the biodiversity of this region.
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