India wins UN Environment award

As per PIB reports, WCCB – Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under Government of India’s Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change has been awarded the Asia Environment Enforcement Award 2018 by United Nation Environment for its work in fighting trans-boundary environment crimes.

The Asia Environment Enforcement awards are awarded to individuals or teams or government organizations in recognition of the brilliance and leadership demonstrated by them in enforcing laws to fight trans-boundary environmental crimes. Integrity, Impact, Innovation, collaboration and gender leadership are the categories in which these awards are given. These awards are decided by a selection panel set up by the UN.

The Union Environment Minister has congratulated the government officials and team from WCCB for their diligent work in fighting trans-boundary environmental crime and winning the award in the category of Innovation. The innovative techniques of enforcement adopted by WCCB have helped in reducing environmental crimes in India. The bureau has developed a Wildlife Crime Database Management system which can provide real time information online and which could be used to not only analyze the trends but also formulate measures to prevent crimes related to wildlife in India.

This system has not only helped in successfully carrying out operations like SAVE KURMA, BIRBIL, THUNDERBIRD, WILDNET amongst many others, but has also helped in analyzing trends, carrying out preventive measures and helped arrest around 350 wildlife criminals, seize Skin/bones of Tigers, Leopards, Horn of Rhino, Tusks of Elephant, Raw hair, hair bruses of Mangoose, antlers of deers, turtles, tortoises, marine animals etc. across Indian states.

WCCB also has a scheme where the interested public can volunteer and join them in their fight against wildlife crimes.

It is notable that India has won the award from UN Environment for the second time in a row.

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