A one-day orientation program on Role of Police and Community in Controlling Illegal Wildlife Trade/Poaching and Environmental Conservation” was held at the assembly hall of the Nepal Police Central Special Task Force in Kapan, Kathmandu, with participation from 150 personnel.
The program was jointly organized by the Nepal Police Central Special Task Force, Natural History Museum (Swayambhu), Environment Law Society Nepal, Nepalese Ornithological Union, Kapan Community Service Forum, and Community Police Service Center.
The event brought together experts from conservation, law, science, and environmental sectors to discuss emerging wildlife crime issues and strengthen collaborative conservation efforts.
Environment engineer Suraj Shrestha, representing Environment Law Society Nepal, presented on “Resilience Dialogues: Community Responses to Transnational Wildlife Crime.” He emphasized the crucial role of local communities and the need for stronger collaboration among communities, law enforcement agencies, and conservation stakeholders to combat transnational wildlife crime.
Similarly, Lakshman Prasad Poudyal, Chief Executive Officer of Nepalese Ornithological Union, delivered a presentation on “Wildlife Crime Control in Nepal Focusing on Birds.” He highlighted threats to bird species from illegal trade and poaching and stressed stronger monitoring, enforcement, and public awareness.
Dr. Ishan Gautam, Chief and principal trainer at the Natural History Museum, presented on “Tribhuvan University, Natural History Museum in CITES Implementation.”He explained the museum’s contribution to implementing CITES through scientific research, conservation education, species identification, and expert support for wildlife trade regulation. He also noted that the museum has served as Nepal’s CITES scientific authority for fauna since 1990.
Journalist, writer, Langtang Goodwill Ambassador, and Village Tourism Ambassador Ashok Silwal, author of Everest: An Unfinished Story, presented “H₂O (Himalaya to Ocean): Nepal Book Journey,”** highlighting the ecological connection between the Himalayas and the oceans.
At the closing session, Superintendent and Chief of the Nepal Police Central Special Task Force Chatra Raj Joshi thanked the resource persons and stressed the importance of such awareness programs in strengthening police capacity in wildlife crime control and biodiversity conservation.
Community Service Forum and Community Police Service Center President Raju Kharel also expressed appreciation to the speakers and participants. The program was moderated by Deputy Superintendent of Police Uddhab Sing Bhat and lawyer Amin Pandey.
The orientation highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies, scientific institutions, conservation organizations, legal professionals, and local communities in combating wildlife crime and protecting Nepal’s biodiversity. #nepal
