CM Chang underscores need of capacity-building for forest officers

Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Parliamentary Affairs, C M Chang, opened the two-day wildlife crime investigation workshop being conducted for forest officers in the conference hall of the Forest office complex in Dimapur on June 22.
A press release received here Friday from chief wildlife warden informed that the workshop is being organised by the Traffic, India, Forest department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of Government of Nagaland and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
Minister Chang in his address underscored the need to preserve the pride and culture of Nagaland.
Most of the forests, he said are areas owned by the communities and hence the community led conservation programmes through the Forest department are important without undermining present legal provisions. He also stressed on the need for capacity building in investigation techniques for the Forest department.
The minister also released traffic’s newsletter, ‘Traffic Post.’
I Panger Jamir, IFS, PCCF & HoFF, who presided over the inaugural programme, suggested a need of capacity building programmes ‘as the state is still in its infancy in tackling illegal wildlife crime.’ Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Sushil Patel, in his speech said the initiative undertaken by the Forest department and local communities in the conservation Amur Falcon is of the success story.
DC maintained that the roles of Forest officers are quite difficult due to the growing challenges. He said wildlife crime is one such challenge and added that the workshop will lay further foundation to create effective ways in tackling wildlife crime.
The head of Traffic India, Dr. Saket Badola said that wildlife forms part of natural resource and forms wellbeing of the communities. India is a source country and from which many species are being traded through various routes out of India.
‘Nagaland being situated at a influential junction with porous borders makes illegal wildlife trade quite easy,’ Badola said. To combat this, he said Forest department should work with communities to reduce wildlife crime in the state.
It is the priority and prerogative of every individual to work towards reducing wildlife crime, said Agni Mitra, regional deputy director (eastern region), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, Kolkata. ‘Enhancing skill sets of Nagaland Forest Department is important as critical steps have been initiated by the Forest department,’ he added.