Lok Sabha Question No. 70 (STARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Wildlife Crimes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *70

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2017

## Wildlife Crimes

## *70. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether India has collaborated with its neighbouring countries to combat wildlife crimes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of major initiatives taken by the Government under the aegis of South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN);
- (c) the objectives of SAWEN and achievements made so far in this regard;
- (d) the funds allocated and expenditure incurred so far under SAWEN; and
- (e) whether any public participation has been envisaged under SAWEN and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)  OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*70 REGARDING 'WILDLIFE CRIMES' BY SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2017

- (a) Yes, Sir.  The  Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  is  conducting  bilateral meetings  with  the  neighbouring  countries  such  as  Bangladesh,  Bhutan, Myanmar  and  Nepal  for  exchange  of  information  and  coordination  in matters related to combating wildlife crimes. A list of meeting held during the last one year is at Annexure .
- (b) The Cabinet Committee has approved the proposal of Ministry of Environment,  Forests  and  Climate  Change  for  adoption  of  the  Statute  of South  Asia  Wildlife  Enforcement  Network  (SAWEN)  on  13 th April  2016. However, the SAWEN is yet to be operationalized.
- (c) The objectives of the SAWEN are as below:
- i. To take initiative for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws  and  policies  of  member  countries  concerning  conservation  of fauna and flora;
- ii. To  document  the  trend  of  poaching  and  illegal  trade  and  related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region;
- iii. To  strengthen  institutional  responses  to  combat  wildlife  crime  by promoting  research  and  information  sharing,  training  and  capacity building, technical support, sharing experience and outreach; and
- iv. To  encourage  members  countries  to  prepared  and  implement  their National  Action  Plans  in  curbing  wildlife  crime  and  to  collaborate towards effective implementation.

They are no visible achievements as SAWEN is yet to become operational. However, on endorsement of five out of eight member countries in 2016, the SAWEN has become a legitimate inter-governmental organization in South Asia, although secretariat has not been operational.

- (d) The  Government  of  Nepal  has  committed  support  of  USD  1,00,000  for SAWEN.
- (e) The statute of SAWEN  contains the institutional arrangement for functioning of the network, its objectives and role of member countries and does  not have  specific  provisions for public participations.  However, Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau,  which  is  the  principal  focal  point  of SAWEN in India, has organized various events with public participation to stop  illegal  traffic  of  wildlife  and  wildlife  crimes  in  the  country  through awareness and education campaigns for various stakeholders.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFFERD TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *70 REGARDING 'WILDLIFE CRIMES' BY SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2017

## DETAILS OF MEETINGS HELD WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES BY WCCB DURING 2016

|   SNo | Date                          | Place and Country   | Purpose of Meeting                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------|-------------------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | 28 th Feb to 05 th March 2016 | Kathmandu, Nepal    | INTERPOL Investigative Support Meeting between India and Nepal                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|     2 | 10 th -11 th April 2016       | New Delhi, India    | INTERPOL Investigative Support Meeting between India and Bangladesh                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|     3 | 27 th to 29 th July 2016      | Singapore           | Regional Investigative and Analytical Meeting on development of operation strategy for combating organized wildlife crime network(focusing on reptiles) by INTERPOL between India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam |
|     4 | 25 th to 27 th Oct 2016       | Dhaka, Bangladesh   | 3 rd Annual Meeting of SAWEN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|     5 | 28 th to 30 th November 2016  | Paro, Bhutan        | Regional Investigative Support Meeting by INTERPOL between India, Bhutan, Bangladesh Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Singapore and Vietnam                                                                                                             |
|     6 | 26 th -27 th July 2016        | New Delhi, India    | 20 th National Level Meeting between Indian and Myanmar                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|     7 | 22 nd -23 rd November 2016    | NayPyi Taw,Myanmar  | Annual Wildlife Crime Nodal Point Meeting between India and Myanmar                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|     8 | 19 th -20 th December 2016    | Mandale, Myanmar    | 22 nd Sectoral Meeting between India and Myanmar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |