Synergised action stressed; CCF rues low conviction rates
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 26 2022: Flagging the ever-increasing graph of wildlife crime especially trafficking in wildlife within India as well at the global level, Manipur High Court Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar on Monday underlined sustained collaboration among all the stakeholders including various government agencies and forces in the state and central level.

Addressing a workshop on 'Wildlife crime prevention - challenges, solutions and role of stakeholders' at the court's auditorium here, the Chief Justice said in view of the changing scenario of wildlife crime, which is the fourth largest illegal trade on the globe, dealing with wildlife crimes requires also probing its link to narco-terrorism and arms smuggling and using of latest scientific mode on investigation DNA tests and wildlife forensics to increase the conviction rate.

He said it is necessary for holding training sessions, awareness workshops for forest, police, judiciary and other government agencies for effective tackling of wildlife crimes through synergized efforts in India, a country with major biodiversity.

Justice Sanjay further said the Northeast as well as the country as a whole stand vulnerable to wildlife crimes because of the presence of porous international borders and rich prevalent biodiversity.

He wished that the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 incorporates additional provisions to deal with the illegal trade of exotic animals.

Other speakers of the workshop organised by Manipur State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with research-based biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org), also agreed for synergized action on part of multiple agencies as well as the community as a whole to mitigate wildlife crimes.

According to Justice MV Muralidaran of the High Court, there is need for serious introspection by all agencies concerned about low reporting wildlife crime in Manipur and delay in the conviction of guilty.

He said as a global citizen it is the duty of every citizen to strive for the protection of wildlife which is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He further raised an alarm that India has become a source, destination and major trafficking route for illegal wildlife trade.

Justice A Bimol Singh, also of the High Court, said India is the 17th major bio diverse country in the world with 70 per cent of the planet's biodiversity though it occupies less than 10 percent of the earth's surface area.

"The country being a treasure trove of flora and fauna, only law and Acts cannot protect the biodiversity unless there is synergy among law enforcing forces, forest agencies and judiciary.

There is need for massive awareness drives, use of technology for prevention of wildlife crimes", he said.

In his address, Chief Conservator of Forests, Manipur, Longjam Joykumar said Manipur having rich biodiversity and being close to the porous international border is vulnerable to wildlife crime and underlined the need for massive awareness among all stakeholders and strict enforcement of the WL (Protection) Act for prevention of such crimes.

The forest officer rued delay in court proceedings and low conviction rates in case of wildlife crime cases and observed that usually, the court tends to ignore the provisions for the imprisonment of wildlife criminals who get away with the only imposition of fines.

Speaking at the discourse, DGP P Doungel pointed out that it is the human greed that has led to proliferation of wildlife crimes and Manipur being considered a haven for wildlife crimes because of its proximity to the international border must have a synergised efforts in place among various agencies including police, forest department, Assam Rifles, Customs, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, etc., to protect the wildlife and prevent crimes.

The programme began with Aaranyak CEO and secretary generation Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar presenting an exhaustive report on wildlife crime at the global and regional context besides explaining the activities and mission of Aaranyak.

MASLSA secretary Ojesh Mutum, in his welcome address underlined the importance of such workshop to create multi-agency coordination in protecting wildlife and preventing wildlife crimes.

Police and forest officers, customs and DRI officials, Assam Rifles officials, the WCCB and NGO members also attended the programme.

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