Training to protect the wild - Jammu & Kashmir

Only about 4.77% of India's total geographical area falls under the Protected Area Network, which classifies the country's wild habitat that are protected by law. However, despite having one of the world's most stringent set of wildlife laws; wildlife crime gravely threatens the flora and fauna within and outside India's protected areas. This gap is largely because of lack of sufficient skilled manpower on the ground. Also, in recent years, wildlife criminals have upgraded their techniques and equipment, making it even more difficult for the relatively under-equipped forest staff to curb illegal activities.
 
Governmental committees looking into wildlife protection issues have flagged, as urgent, the need to train and equip frontline forest department staff; they recommend this as one of the key focus areas to combat wildlife crime in India.

VRP (also known as ‘Guardians of the Wild’ project) was initiated in 2001 to minimise wildlife crime by strengthening the capabilities of wildlife protectors throughout the country, while also looking after their welfare.

Training in progress in Corbett

The VRP assists the government to create a strong, well-equipped and motivated force of front-line field staff to effectively curb poaching and habitat degradation in wildlife areas. A division of the Policy, Enforcement, Law and Training (PELT) programme of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the VRP has been supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), Care for the Wild International (CWI), National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS), British High Commission (BHC), Save the Tiger Fund (STF), Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Federation, the Tiger Trust, Burgers Zoo- Netherlands and Stop Poaching Fund (Serenity Trust, India).

VRP follows a multi-pronged strategy with four thrust areas, abbreviated as TEAM: Training, Equipping, Awareness and Morale Boosting, to broadly facilitate capacity building and strengthen spirits of personnel in tough field circumstances. The project team, led by coordinator, Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh, comprises a group of skilled trainers who work closely with frontline forest field staff, honing their skills, boosting morales, and equipping them to perform their duties better.
 
In collaboration with respective state forest departments, VRP trains and equips frontline forest staff to combat wildlife crime efficiently.

For an overall performance enhancement, targeted trainings are organised for forest officials, in two groups depending on their ranks. Group-I comprises Senior Foresters, Range Forest Officers, Assistant Conservators of Forests and Divisional Forest Officers. Group-II comprises frontline forest staff below the rank of Range Officers including casual workers.

Seizure made by forest staff in Bhim Bandh Sanctuary, Bihar, soon after VRP training in May 2005

Likewise, the training curriculum is categorised into Module-A and Module-B, and designed to suit the requirements of Group-I and Group-II officials respectively.

Module-A includes in-depth understanding of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other acts/rules required in handling wildlife crime cases. It also teaches trainees the basics of a good investigation, methods of preparing and filing legal cases against wildlife offenders and updates them on the latest amendments in case laws.

Module-B aims at increasing awareness of Group-II staff on flora and fauna of the respective protected area, threats to wildlife and problems with respect to their management. This module focuses on aspects of crime prevention such as field craft, patrolling techniques, field investigations, etc. Through theory and practical exercises, the forest department staff is trained on observation skills, data collection, record keeping, effective patrolling and reporting, functional law and their rights and powers while carrying out their duty.

A set of field gear

Upon successful completion, Module-B trained Group II personnel are given field gear sets to help them in field work. The field gear set is assembled according to the need of the concerned protected area. It includes specific items of local need in addition to general items such as a rain suit, a rucksack, a water bottle, a cap and a torch light.  

Lakhimai Das, widow of Patiram Das of Kaziranga NP, receives a WTI-facilitated insurance cheque

The duty of the frontline field staff often requires them to face well-equipped criminals. As part of its morale boosting initiative, the VRP runs the only one of its kind umbrella insurance scheme for forest staff all over India. This unique Group Accident Insurance Scheme benefits the frontline field staff and their families in case of permanent disability or death while on duty. It provides an insurance cover of up to Rs 100,000 (app US$ 2000).

VRP also maintains the Protected Area Staff Status (PASS) database, which tracks the careers of forest department staff from the rank of Range Forest Officers and below including temporary staff, in protected areas. With over 17,000 staff on its database, it is the only one of its kind in India and can serve as a useful tool for government and policy makers.

To recognise and reward good effort, the unit also gives awards and financially supports those in need. It aims to create a network of field staff around the country to facilitate exchange of experience and information. The Van Rakshak award is given to an outstanding field worker at the prestigious Venu Menon National Animal Awards function held in Delhi every year on February 19.

Field staff with their field gear sets at Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, (left) and Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand (right)

Training forest officials in Jammu and Kashmir

Training in Jammu and Kashmir
Three consecutive trainings were held in the state of Jammu & Kashmir from July 28 to August 6, 2008. About 32 forest officials from Limber, Lachipora, Naganari, Hirpura, Karakoram, Hemis and Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS) participated in the first training (Module-A) organised at Dachigam National Park, Srinagar from July 28 to July 30.

The remaining two were Module-B trainings organised at Limber WLS and Pahalgam from August 1-3 and August 4-6 respectively. The training at Limber WLS included 31 participants including police personnel from the North Kashmir Wildlife Division. About 45 participants, including frontline forest staff, police personnel and Forest Protection Force from South Kashmir Wildlife Division participated in the second training held at Pahalgam.   

Abdul Qayuoom Khan (right) receives his award from Fred O'Regan, President, IFAW

IFAW-WTI Van Rakshak Award 2008:
Abdul Qayuoom Khan
Abdul Qayuoom Khan has been working as a Wildlife Guard in Bunyar in the state of Jammu & Kashmir for the last 25 years. He has been involved in extensive wildlife surveys with the Aligarh Muslim University, Kashmir University , Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Nature Conservation Foundation and many other institutions and agencies. He has been instrumental in getting the support of the locals in Bunyar for conservation of wildlife. He has been actively involved in protecting the Markhor, a globally threatened species.