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WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY?
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has awarded the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of India for its excellent work in combating trans-boundary environmental crimes. The Asia Environmental Enforcement Award recognises the excellent work done by government officials and teams from the bureau who are diligently involved in combating transboundary environmental crime.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions/teams combating transboundary environmental crime in Asia. The 2018 Awards will be given by UNEP with UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL (UNODC), USAID, Freeland Foundation, and Government of Sweden.
ASIA ENVIRONMENT ENFORCEMENT AWARD
The award was decided upon by a selection panel set up by the UN Environment and this is the second time in a row the awards are being given by UN Environment to India. However, WCCB has been conferred this award in “Innovation” category. Last year it was awarded for its efforts in conducting and coordinating species-specific wildlife enforcement operation codenamed ‘Operation Save Kurma’. The operation is aimed at combating proliferating illegal trade of live turtles and its parts from the country to destinations abroad.
WILDLIFE CRIME CONTROL BUREAU WCCB
has developed an online Wildlife Crime Database Management System to get real time data in order to help analyze trends in crime and devise effective measures to prevent and detect wildlife crimes across India. This system has helped to analyze trends, and for carrying out operations like Operation SAVE KURMA, THUNDERBIRD, WILDNET, LESKNOW, BIRBIL, THUNDERSTORM, LESKNOW-II along with other enforcement agencies resulting in the arrest of 350 wildlife criminals and huge seizures of animal bones.
WILDLIFE CRIME CONTROL BUREAU (WCCB)
WCCB is statutory multi-disciplinary body under Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. It was established in June 2007 by amending Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972, a special Act to protect wildlife and fauna in the country.
NOTES
- Under Section 38 (Z) of WLPA, 1972, it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime and disseminate it to state and other enforcement agencies for immediate action.
- It assists foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control.
WILDLIFE CRIME CONTROL BUREAU (WCCB)
The Bureau has its headquarters in New Delhi and five regional offices at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur. The bureau can also advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws.
WHY DOES UN ENVIRONMENT GIVE THESE AWARDS?
Transboundary environmental crime is a serious and growing problem. Illegal trade in wildlife is the fourth largest illegal trade globally (after drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking). It undermines food security, harms economies, devastates livelihoods, fuels terrorism, and comprises ecosystems on which humans depend.
NOTES
Asia remains one of the world’s largest dumping grounds for illegally traded chemicals and waste. Public officials and institutions/teams working on environmental enforcement issues are on the front-line of efforts to combat transboundary environmental crime. The 2018 Awards will recognize and celebrate their critical role in doing so.
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