Lok Sabha Question No. 240 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *240

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network

## *240.  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

Will  the  Minster  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has given its approval for adopting the statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) recently to check cross border wildlife crimes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the names of the countries which have become members of SAWEN; and
- (d) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to stop illegal traffic of wildlife and wildlife crimes in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), AND (d)  OF THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.*  240  REGARDING  'SOUTH ASIA WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT NETWORK' BY SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA AND SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN FOR REPLY ON 10.05.2016:

- (a) and (b) Yes Sir, the Cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Environment, Forest  and  Climate  Change  for  adoption  of  the  Statute  of  South  Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) on 13 th April 2016.
- (c) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are members of SAWEN.
- (d) The  steps  taken  by  government  to  stop  illegal  traffic  of  wildlife  and wildlife crimes in the country are as follows:
1. India  is  a  signatory  to  the  Convention  on  International  Trade  in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that monitors international trade in wildlife and its derivatives;
2. India  is  part  of  Global  Wildlife  Programme  supported  by  Global Environment  Facility  for  combating  illegal  wildlife  trade  with  the support of communities;
3. Bilateral  and  Multilateral  arrangement  with  other  countries  are  in place for combating illegal trade of wildlife;
4. The Central Government has enacted the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to deal with the issues of wildlife crime. Stringent penalties are imposed on the offenders for the contravention of the provisions of the Act;
5. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, with a network of five Regional and three  Sub  Regional  Offices,  has  been  set  up  to  control  wildlife crime;
6. WCCB is  assisting  border  agencies  for  combating  illegal  wildlife trade and is also conducting training courses for various enforcement agencies like Customs, Central Police Forces etc. for better appreciation of illegal wildlife trade.
7. Wildlife offences involving a total value of Rs. 30.00 lakhs or more have been brought under the purview of the Prevention of MoneyLaundering Act, 2002;
8. Collection,  collation  and  dissemination  of  intelligence  on  illegal trafficking  of  wildlife  and  its  parts  as  well  as  wildlife  crime  to various agencies for apprehension of criminals.
9. The  Bureau  is  making  collection,  collation  and  dissemination  of intelligence on illegal trafficking of wildlife and its parts as well as wildlife crime to various agencies for apprehension of criminals;
10. The  Bureau  is  conducting  joint  operations  with  state  enforcement agencies  to  apprehend  criminals  involved  in  illegal  wildlife  crime and is providing assistance to state enforcement agencies in investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime cases.
11. The Bureau has brought out Handbook for wildlife crime investigation officers on wildlife crime investigation, X-Ray Manual of  wildlife  products  in  illegal  trade  and  Identification  Manual  of Wildlife Species in trade.