Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development organises Two-day training workshop for Indian Forest Service Officers

Date: 9/27/2010

Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development organised Two-day training workshop for Indian Forest Service Officers on “Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification: Criteria and Indicators” at F-2 Block, MDP Conference Hall, Amity University Campus, Sector-125, Noida on 27-28th September, 2010.

Workshop was inaugurated by Dr. T.R. Manoharan, Head (Forest Programme), WWF-India, New Delhi, Prof. B.K.P. Sinha, Director, ASNR&SD.

Prof. B.K.P. Sinha, Director, Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development presented the welcome address and briefed the audience about the theme of the Training Workshop.

Inauguration was followed by technical sessions. During the first technical session Dr. T.R. Manoharan, Head (Forest Programme), WWF-India, New Delhi discussed about the case study - Forest Certification in Developing Countries. Mr. Samir Sinha, IFS, TRAFIC India, WWF India, New Delhi presented his thoughts on Legal Issues on International Trade of Forest Products.

During second technical session Dr. H.D. Kulkarni, Vice President (Plantation), ITC Ltd., Sarapaka, Andhra Pradesh shared his thought on Forest Certification – An Industry Experience. Dr. Prodyut Bhattacharya, Professor, IP University, Delhi talked on Criteria and Indicator for Sustainable Management of Forest: Bhopal India Process.

On second day two technical session were organised. During first technical session Mr. A.M. Singh, IFS, DIG, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi talked on Criteria and Indicator for Sustainable Forest Management – A Potential Tool for Forest Certification. Mr. Piare Lal, Chief Executive, Pragati Biotechnologies, Jalandhar, Punjab shared his thought on the topic Procurement Policies of Forest Based Industries: Its Linkages with Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest management. During second technical session Mr. A.K. Bansal, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Project Director, Orissa Forestry Sector Development Project, Bhubaneswar talked on Joint Forest Management plus – Sustainable Forest Management.

Technical session was followed by Panel Discussion. In this session Dr. J.C. Kala, Ex-Director General, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Member, National Environment Appellate Authority, New Delhi, Dr. V.K. Bahuguna, Member (Technical Expert – Forestry), National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi, Mr. Piare Lal, Chief Executive, Pragati Biotechnologies, Jalandhar, Punjab, Mr. A.K. Bansal, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Project Director, Orissa Forestry Sector Development Project, Bhubaneswar, Mr. A.M. Singh, IFS, DIG, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, Prof. B.K.P. Sinha, IFS (Retd.), Director, Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Noida presented their thoughts.

Leonardo DiCaprio to save our tigers!

Leonardo DiCaprio to save Indian tigers! Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is all set to raise global awareness to save India’s tigers.A senior environment ministry told “The actor met the minister and has expressed his interest to play a crucial role in sensitizing the global community to the cause of the Indian tiger.”
An official stated “DiCaprio plans to come to India to be a part of the conservation efforts.” Megastar Amitabh Bachchan earlier this year joined a campaign to protect tigers.
2 years ago Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up a national wildlife crime prevention bureau, drawing experts from environmental agencies, police and customs to end poaching.
Despite numerous measures, poachers have killed 32 tigers in 2009 and 3 in 2010 as stated by Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Nepal is epicentre of wildlife poaching

Rajendra S Markuna | Haldwani

With the neighbouring Nepal allegedly becoming the epicentre of a wildlife poaching syndicate the Uttarakhnad Government has sought the assistance of the Interpol to curb the menace.

"We are constantly in touch with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Government of India to approach the Interpol, said the concerned sources.

The main concern is that since three most notorious poachers - Dariya, Sansar Chand and his brother Naryan Chand - are presently in Katni, Delhi and Alwar jails, yet the number of poaching of wild animals are on the rise.

"Only during the past few months about 29 leopard skins were seized," Anil Balooni, vice-chairman of Forest and Environment advisory committee, told The Pioneer.

He further informed that this was just the tip of the ice burg. Apart from leopard skins, seizure of tiger skins, parts of elephants, deer and other endangered species is not less alarming following their high demand in the international market.

The fact remains that despite a lot of enforcement network put in place, only about 5 per cent cases of wildlife poaching cases come to light, Balooni further informed.

Use of wildlife products is totally banned in our country. Even traditionally that is not allowed here while in other counties like China, Thailand, Singapore to name a few there is no such ban. So it has become a matter of serious concern for us in recent times, he maintained.

"Since we have very friendly relations with Nepal with an open border and unrestricted movements, this has only proved to be counterproductive for us as far as preservation of wildlife is concerned. Today it is believed that all major wildlife poachers are running their networks from Nepal. So we are in constant touch with the Government India to help us get the services of other agencies like Interpol and our own intelligence agencies, Balooni further informed.

Expressing concern over the increasing network of wildlife poachers, chief wildlife warden SK Chandola also echoed similar concerns saying they were in touch with the Government of India and WCCB to get the services of Interpol in this regard. "If need we won't be shy to take the assistance of the Interpol and other enforcement agencies," added Chandola.

Pillai publicly objects forest officials attending meetings held by Naxals

HOME secretary GK Pillai is back in action, with yet another explosive statement. He said some of the senior forest officials living in Naxal areas are attending meetings organized by banned Maoist outfits, in addition to not passing over information about happenings there, raising a serious security concern of the North Block.

Only recently, Pillai’s statement about ISI’s direct role in Mumbai attacks on the eve of India-Pakistan foreign minister level talks virtually derailed the process, leading foreign minister SM Krishna repeatedly mentioning about the ill-timing of his statement. But no one including the Pakistani side could afford to say that Pillai’s statement was wrong in content.

Now, addressing the 35 District Forest Officials (DFOs) from various Naxal-hit areas, Pillai said on Saturday that forest officers were not co-operating in providing information about Naxals’ grouping in jungles and collecting arms and ammunition. He further objected about forest officers’ attending meetings organized by banned Maoists groups. He even cited an example in which a forest official in July attended a meeting organised by the extremists at Sunabeda sanctuary in Orissa. What was further objectionable was that the said officer took his official vehicle to attend the meeting.

(In picture: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the Forest Service Officers from Naxal affected States, in New Delhi on August 06, 2010).

IFS and IPS officers get postings at HP Secretariat

Express News Service 

Taking a cue from some of the neighbouring states, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to post Indian Forest Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the Secretariat to handle jobs hitherto done by either IAS or senior Himachal Administrative Services (HAS) officers.
Earlier, IFS and IPS officers were posted only as managing directors or chief executive officers of state-owned public sector undertakings.
IFS officer B D Suyal has been posted as Special Secretary (Power), while Amitabh Gautam will be Special Secretary, Finance. Vineet Kumar is now the Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.
The Himachal Forest Officers’ Welfare Association has thanked Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for the decision. In another decision, Inspector General of Police Atul Verma has been appointed Special Secretary, Home. The posting orders were issued on Wednesday evening.

Assam empowers Forest Department to use fire arms to protect its natural heritage

WTI-Guwahati (Assam), August 3, 2010: The Government of Assam has passed a notification to equip state Forest Department personnel with fire arms to ensure better protection to its forests and wildlife, particularly rhinos.

The order released by the Governor’s office, last month, indicates that the decision was taken to tackle mounting threats to forests and wildlife in protected areas and reserved forests. Its provisions apply to all forest officers from frontline staff to the seniormost members of the Department.     

Forest authorities have often argued that under-equipped frontline staff are at a disadvantage when fighting against organised poaching gangs. 

“We have been waiting for this order for a long time. When we approached the state Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi and the state Forest Minister Shri Rockybul Hussain, they were very supportive and agreed on the need for this order, to help protect our wildlife,” said VK Bisnoi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (General) and Head of Forest Force, Government of Assam.

The order also provides immunity to forest officials from prosecution without prior sanction, in case of firing incidents. However, suspect firing incidents will be investigated upon through a Majesterial Enquiry, and criminal proceedings can be initiated against erring officials if the use of fire arms is proven as “unnecessary, unwarranted and excessive”.

Six years’ imprisonment and 50,000 rupees fine for Sansar Chand

New Delhi, August 25, 2010: Setting an unprecedented milestone in the history of wildlife crime cases in India, the notorious wildlife trader Sansar Chand was today sentenced to six years’ imprisonment - the maximum prison term mandated by the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act when Sansar was caught red-handed with a leopard skin in 1995.

Apprehended by a Delhi Police team from Sadar Bazar on July 17, 1995, Sansar Chand was also fined 50,000 rupees by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts) Dig Vinay Singh announcing the sentence at the Indian capital.

“We are absolutely thrilled about this development. This is the first instance that any individual has been awarded maximum sentence for wildlife crime in India. Although Indian wildlife laws are considered among the best in the region, very often they are not used to their full potential. This case has marked a beginning, and hopefully, will serve as a strong deterrant to wildlife crimes,” said Ashok Kumar, Vice-chairman, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

With the complaint filed by wildlife inspector VB Dasan, the case was scrupulously followed-up by the office of DM Shukla, Chief Wildlife Warden, Delhi. The prosecution was led by Atiq Ahmed, Prosecutor, Delhi Government, assisted by Saurabh Sharma, WTI lawyer.  

“While passing the sentence, the court said that such instances need to be dealt with iron hands. Sansar Chand can now appeal to the sessions court, challenging the judgment. We will continue our work to ensure that the judgment is upheld,” said Sharma.