Port Blair, Sept 29: A three days training cum workshop on “Legal aspects in Forestry and Wildlife was organized “( for the ACF’s and Forest Ranger’s) by the Department of Environment and Forests from 26th to 28th September,2016 at Van Sadan, Haddo. Apart from the Resource persons from the Islands, Experts from mainland were also invited to impart training, aiming at capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife and forest offences having national and international ramifications. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a repository of rich pristine flora and fauna, many of which are endemic, very fragile and vulnerable with its diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystem and is no exception for wildlife crimes in particular. The workshop has beena long felt need so as to facilitate the Forest Officers to be aware of the improvised techniques adopted in commission of wildlife and forest offences and to ensure success in the prosecution of wildlife and forest offences in the present scenario of Forest and Wildlife Conservation policies.
The training was inaugurated on 26.9.2016 by Shri, Tarun Coomar, APCCF(Administration & Vigilance) and commenced with the lecture of Shri. M.I. Varghese, Officer Retd. from Kerala Forest Department, who dealt at length with the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 during his 39 years of service. All aspects of enforcement and investigation into wildlife crimes as per the provisions of Wildlife Protection act 1972, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act with special emphasis on the powers of Forest Officers in dealing with forest and wildlife crimes and its investigation, citing various judgements of courts had been covered in the daylong session on 26.09.2016. The resource person also dealt with the Forest stations and its notification which has been a successful venture in Kerala towards the control of Forest and Wildlife offences and also appreciated the efforts taken by the A&N Administration in adopting the model of Forest Stations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Shri. B. Saigal, Dy.SP, A&N Police Department, dealt in detail the criminal investigation starting from detection of crime to its conviction, insisting upon the duties and responsibilities by law enforcement officers from the detection of the crime till the culmination of prosecutions. The provisions of major Acts (IPC, CrPC, &IEA) with updated amendments in the acts with the significance of policing and coordination with Police Department in dealing with forest and wildlife crimes were specifically discussed during the interactive session with the resource person, laying special emphasis on ensuring the conviction of the accused as in the present scenario the conviction rate is very low and the law enforcement officers are required to be careful in dealing the legal provisions of the law of the land related to the crime.
Shri. Param Vir Singh, Wildlife Inspector, Retd. from Delhi Government, during the session on 27.9.16 exclusively covered the provisions of Wildlife protection Act,1972 and ways and means through which a proper case of wildlife offences can be registered in the court of law for achieving appropriate conviction to the committed crime. The wildlife cases of grave concern and the logical conclusions achieved in it, in the Delhi Government were discussed during the interactive session and it was insisted upon to follow the provisions of the Act clearly without any procedural lapses so as to get a higher conviction rate in the crimes booked.
On 28.09.2016 Smt Jayshree Ardey Chauhan, APCCF(FC), in her address laid special emphasis on the fragile ecosystem of the Islands and dealt with the important provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991, and Island Protection Zone Notification, 2011. The duties and responsibilities of Forest Officers in examination of the proposals submitted for diversion of forest land for non- forestry purposes and the clearances under Island Protection Zone Notification 2011, keeping in view the conservation aspects, were discussed during the interaction with her.
In the afternoon session on 28.09.2016 Shri Kamuruddin, Asst. Public Procecutor, District and Sessions Court, Port Blair in a nutshell covered the Indian Forest Act,1927 and Wildlife Protection Act 1972.The lapses that are observed in the prosecution of cases related to Forest and Wildlife Offences in the Islands were discussed with the ACF’s and Forest Rangers and it was insisted by the resource person that such lacunas need to be corrected in future for achieving a higher rate of conviction in the Wildlife and Forest offences.
A Valedictory function of the training cum workshop, was organised on 28.9.2016 where Shri, TarunCoomar, APCCF(A&V) gave away the certificates to the participants and urged that the training would bring up an new practice in enforcement and investigation of Forest related offences and also underlined the need for taking all necessary steps to protect the wildlife and preserve the rich forests of these Islands, known throughout the world.
