Dr Krishna Kumar Tamang

Introduction:

The most recent updated world population is 7.5 billion as of September 2017 according to the United Nations estimates elaborated by Worldometers. Alas, could also there the land stretch in proportion to the booming population. The increase in population has made the world shrunk and humans have made their habitation as to needs modified and improvised with no concern of other living beings on the earth. Every creature of this planet has an equal right to live as does a human being. Animal rights activists have been raising voice from time to time and still much remains there to be done. It is not the state authority or government only to think of preserving natural balance hitherto any rational intelligent human being is looked upon to see the matter with sobriety. In the present scenario what else the animals and other mammals would do up to against humans if they occupy whole the habitable space for themselves? Human activities gravely affect Earth's biodiversity which hinders the healthy ecosystems. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature reports species are going extinct at a breakneck rate -- up to 1,000 times faster than normal.

Present Status of Wildlife Nepal:

Nepal has officially classified two main categories of wildlife i.e. common and protected. The common category is made of species as common leopard, spotted deer, Himalayan Thar, blue sheep, and alike others. These species as common life in the wild whilst the latter category of species comprises mammals, birds, and reptiles confined to their prime habitats. There are 38 protected wildlife species of fauna including birds of which 50% are in various stages of the threat as late as August 2017 of the total number of species found globally, 3.96 percent mammals, 3.72 percent butterflies and 8.9 percent of birds.

Since the last survey of 2009, a joint survey of Nepal and India with coverage area over 600 miles revealed the number of Bengal tigers increased to 198. The increase has helped to Nepal's commitment to making double the number of tigers (Tx2) in the wild by 2022 as agreed at the International Tiger Conservation Forum, 2010 in St Petersburg, Russia. So far, the anti-poaching efforts include communities also of high-tech patrolling methods to control the illegal wildlife trade. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) commits working with Nepal's authorities to continue, and strengthen conservation efforts. To protect human gains the efforts need to be redoubled or else they could be threatened to extinction for illegal wildlife trade.

Challenges to Cope with:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had an inspection team for the Chitwan National Park in 2016 against threats of urbanization and human settlement to find inhabitants' encroachment at the diversified wildlife park, the World Heritage site. What came to light were the future projects of master planning an international airport, construction of roads, bridges like structures and the possibility of construction of East-West Railway through the Park that pose threats to the preservation of endangered species. To enhance checks for ensured safety of the protected animals to and fro the ends of Rapti River Bridge and all across the roadsides security principles should be strictly adhered to. 

Nepal has tremendous progress in the field of wildlife conservation. However, due to blind faith and lack of education in some Asian communities still, there are people with deeply rooted belief in animal body parts dispelling diseases. All this makes poachers lured in the animal organ trade as Nepal a hub for poaching to which world conservationists face a challenge. The most widely used measures of wildlife protection in Nepal are patrols conducted on foot, sometimes vehicles and elephant rides. Also, efforts of intelligence yield in apprehending accomplices and those engaged in crimes against wildlife.

 Trend in Jungle Crimes:

The Government of Nepal has set an example on 22 May 2017 by destroying wildlife relics in a large quantity of various near-extinct creatures. The motive of the action was to let the world know those hunted, poached and smuggled through crimes were of no monetary value at all and no significance in any manner. The collection of the burnt animal organs was since the last 20 years including retrieved from those of natural deaths. 

Due to several different conservation programs, there were neither tiger, elephant and nor rhino deaths in Nepal in 2011 and so was the year of 2013. Unfortunately, the year 2012 had a rhino poached, which too can be taken positively in comparison to the rate of previous years. Keeping this in view the World Wildlife Fund to protect the wildlife in Nepal had plans for special training of the wisest species of dog as part of the Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy. The trained sniffing dogs would be of immense help in Nepal to track animals, detect hidden wildlife products, find crime scenes, avoid traps and pursue poachers.

Legal Provisions - International/National:

Nepal has to date established 12 National Parks, 1 Wildlife Reserve, 6 Conservation Areas and 1 Hunting Reserve totaling 20 Protected Areas for the protection of its fauna since 1973. To enlarge the mission of conservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 more than 893,200 hectares of land was added in 1992. The Sagarmatha National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site also an Important Bird Area (IBA) as recognized by BirdLife International is a globally significant habitat for bird population conservation. Similarly, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has since July 1, 1975, listed more than 35,000 species of animals and plants deemed to protection from becoming extinct in the wild due to international trade. The CITES undertakes to protect endangered animals and plants with the cooperation of voluntarily participating countries. To add much to it also, the Government of Nepal had declared an area of 15.95 sq. km in Bardia as Blackbuck Conservation Area.

As for the pride, Nepal has got the coveted CITES Secretary-General's Certificate in recognition of extraordinary efforts to stop the poaching of wildlife within its borders at the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) conference.

Requisites for Added Protection:

The underway protection of the wildlife seemingly is not adequate for attaining the fullest safety set objectives. More stringent legal provisions need to be promulgated in terms of personnel deployed number which looks desperate for hiking. Forest guards and army personnel efforts how hard they put are undermatch for the coverage of the areas entitled to protection. On the other hand, Nepal Army has a considerable number of soldiers in wildlife conservation through now and then on-demand of political and situational untoward eventualities the army faces constraints for the added force to spare. In this regard, the Armed Police Force could be an option for the tightening of wildlife security. The APF too probably would require supplementary recruitment to meet the purpose which ought not to be a harsh deal for the greater interest of a country.

Currently, APF troops are deployed in conservation of forests against encroachment in Mahottari, Sarlahi, Saptari, Rutahat, and Bara districts. Upon sanction from the ministerial cabinet Sagarnath Forestry Development Project (SFDP), jungle property encroached districts were evacuated off the deforesting and land occupying people in 2015. Although it took time for the clearance, at last habitat of wildlife could be safe from further savage destruction. Still, it would not be right to assume the problems been over yet. No sooner the Force leaves the location it would be as it was thronged of makeshifts and shelters. Hence, in a bid to contain the under control situation the emptied forest land should not be left unattended.  

While the security of forest is pertinent the topic of wildlife cannot be sidelined either. Since the forest-related job is challenging orientation and training courses for the same fetch great importance.

As far as the deployment of the APF is concerned in coordination with the Ministry of Forest a minute and detailed strategic planning with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) need to be devised. Rules of Engagement (RoE) to logistical, operational and legal aspects need to be outlined with rigorous discussions of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to avert impending confusion. Simply, the presence of Force would not suffice rather for effectiveness in discharging tasks tenable rights could be necessitated. To some extent inadvertently the country code, civil law and the forest law intertangle and to smoothen the functionalities of the Force conditions could be emerging. Note to worth is the mention of code of conduct, dress code, and financial liability as such nothing to mess in organizational planning (O&M) and thereof back up crisis management in the event of an emergency. Apart from these all arrangements fulfilled on the remaining professional activities, the APF is apt to handle the most proficient way. 

Besides, to manual and individuals in person also emphasis should be on modern technical and mechanical tools used in the protection of the target groups. Though, the media as blows its trumpet of the government and concern agencies' endeavors to address the issues they do not come out as should have been to the public. Nevertheless, equipped with cameras and Global Positioning System (GPS), supported by the WWF's Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy, the high-tech drones monitor the activities and numbers of tigers and rhinos for research purposes, simultaneously poachers and illegal activities drag into the surveillance of the protected areas. The drones contribute in assisting conservationists, and agencies to monitor the animals, along with government officials to protect future generations.

At times, there are demands for the APF in controlling the illegal trade of wildlife organs along the border. Owing to state prescribed mandates the APF is stationed on the border with India and China respectively in the south and north at the international juncture executing duties. And in the course whatsoever comes across they are tackled accordingly. No matter what it is, be it gravel and sand or arms and merchandise they are subject to customs, forest department, quarantine or police discretion where to concerning the APF hands over for official process.

Too often, a raised point is how can powder-like substance barely be ascertained what to be unless some kind of test is performed. Likewise, good heavens, how on earth a security personnel can distinguish simply by looking at a dry and tapered tiny object from blackberry to bear bile? This is why they need training and tools to encounter such odd circumstances.

The gist of afore texts calls for periodical review of wildlife status and considerations for their future to which ours is inseparable.

Published:

 Agraza, Annual Publication, Issue -5, Oct 2017

Nepal Ex-Armed Police Association

 Dr. Tamang often writes articles, features and research papers on administrative and management issues of disaster, crimes against women and children, good governance, international humanitarian law, Mines/UXO awareness, security and safety matters literature. 

 He has Post Graduation Degree in International Humanitarian Law, Master's Degree in Disaster Mitigation, and Master's Degree in Criminology, M Phil in Police Administration and PhD in Public Administration. Besides, various security genre professional trainings home and abroad, seminars and United Nations varied three peacekeeping field missions experience; and a number of conflict management courses in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa; are plus points for his successful academic aspects of the career. For more of his interesting write-ups to see, please surf

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