KATHMANDU, NEPAL 24 April 2022: Workshop on Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Survey Result Sharing and Wildlife Crime Database-Management Information System (WCD-MIS) was concluded in Dharan, Sunsari. The two days program was organized by South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in collaboration with the Government of Nepal from 21 to 22 April 2022. The workshop was coordinated by wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) central level in participation of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), Ministry of Forests, Environment and Soil Conservation, Province-1 and Directorate of Forests in Province-1. Divisional Forest Officers and Assistant Divisional Forest Officers from Division Forest Offices of Province-1 as well as Chief Conservation Officer and team from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve participated in the program. Major objective of the workshop was to share the output of nationwide survey on IWT route and hotspots conducted under the project ZSL/HN/SAWEN and on the other hand, to orient Forest/Wildlife Officials on WCD-MIS application.

Opening the program, Mr. Rabindra Maharjan, Director at Directorate of Forests, Province-1, recalled the practice of forest management in Nepal along with the challenges faced including wildlife crime. Mr. Maharjan directed all the participants to engage in fruitful discussion and transfer the knowledge to fellow officials in their workplaces. Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai, Senior Environment Officer of SAWEN, welcomed all the participants and shared the program overview that will be covered in two days period. Mr. Rishiram Dhakal, Assistant Investigation Officer, DNPWC, facilitated the program.

Mr. Bhattarai shared result of the survey including wildlife crime hotspots, IWT routes, major challenges faced by the law enforcement agencies and recommendations to overcome the challenges. Existing scenario in Nepal focusing in Province-1 was reflected during the discussion with reference to the identified hotspots and trade routes. Mr. Dhakal, updated the revised propositions of WCCB mechanism to link local to central level in the new set up of federal system. Mr. Dhakal briefly outlined the features of WCD-MIS and collected the feedback on this web-based application. In addition, discussion on relief guideline was also a part of the program.

A brief closing session was held in the presence of Dr. Ram Chandra Kandel, Chief Enforcement Coordinator of SAWEN, Director General of DNPWC, and Coordinator of WCCB central level; Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, Country Representative of ZSL Nepal Office; representative of NTNC and all the participants. During the closing session, Dr. Kandel encouraged all the higher officials to apply and guide in implementing WCD-MIS in divisional level and in Park authorities which enable conservation to reach in set objectives. Dr. Kandel, extended commitment for more capacity building activities from SAWEN and enhanced cooperation and coordination in the fight against wildlife crime.