The United Nations, USAID, Interpol, and the Freeland Foundation recently recognized nine institutions and individuals from across Asia in an annual awards ceremony held in Bangkok. These entities received recognition for their commendable efforts in preventing transboundary environmental crimes. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, was among the honorees, earning itself the Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018. The WCCB earned this accolade for its exemplary role in combating transboundary environmental crime.
The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards
The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards aim to publicly acknowledge and celebrate noteworthy enforcement actions taken by government officials, institutions, and teams to combat transboundary environmental crime in Asia. These awards are presented to outstanding individuals and/or government organizations that demonstrate excellence and sovereign application of national laws to fight against transboundary environmental humiliation. The awards recognize achievements made in five key areas: collaboration, impact, innovation, integrity, and gender leadership. The WCCB was distinguished specifically in the Innovation category for this year’s honours.
WCCB’s Innovation in Combating Transboundary Environmental Crime
WCCB set itself apart from other contenders through the use of innovative enforcement techniques, such as the implementation of an online Wildlife Crime Database Management System. This system provides real-time data, which helps the bureau analyze trends in crime and develop effective measures to prevent and detect wildlife crimes all over India. The system has been significantly effective in operating missions like Operation SAVE KURMA, THUNDERBIRD, WILDNET, and LESKNOW.
A Brief on the Successful Operations of the WCCB
The different operations carried out using the Wildlife Crime Database Management System serve varying purposes. Operation SAVE KURMA is a species-specific operation focusing on turtles. Operation THUNDERBIRD is code-named for INTERPOL’s multi-national and multi-species enforcement operation. The WILDNET operation works towards curbing illegal trade of wild animals and their parts through online platforms. Lastly, Operation LESKNOW is dedicated to checking the illegal trade of lesser-known species of animals.
Notable Facts and Figures
| Operation Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SAVE KURMA | Species-specific operation focusing on turtles |
| THUNDERBIRD | INTERPOL’s multi-national and multi-species enforcement operation |
| WILDNET | Curbing illegal trade of wild animals and their parts through online platforms |
| LESKNOW | Checking the illegal trade of lesser-known species of animals |
The Scope of Environmental Crimes
Environmental crimes consist of various illicit activities, including the illegal trade of wildlife, unauthorized commerce in forests and forestry products, unlawful dumping of waste including chemicals, smuggling of substances that deplete the ozone layer, and illegal mining. These unlawful practices collectively amount to potentially $258 billion per year, making environmental crime the fourth largest illegal activity after drug smuggling, counterfeiting, and human trafficking.