Workshop on Sensitization of Environment Crime to the Judiciary and Enforcement Agencies

"The legal experts should make sure that illegal wildlife traders and poachers are brought to justice and work more effectively to curb illegal trade of wildlife. There is a great need for more trainings and workshops of this kind to the legal experts in order to sensitize them on the gravity of environmental crimes. I am very happy that I have participated in this workshop and I will convey the message to my colleagues about the seriousness of wildlife crime. If hearings on wildlife crime were brought to my court, I will make sure that the convicted will be penalized as per law." said Right Honorable Supreme Court Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel said at the two day Workshop On Sensitization Of Environment Crime To The Judiciary And Enforcement Agencies, organized by Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) with Saugat Legal Research and Consultancy (SLRC) and National Judicial Academy (NJA).

During the inauguration Ceremony Mr. Prasanna Yonzon, The Chief Executive of Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) made a presentation on the current scenario of environment and wildlife crime in Nepal. Addressing the workshop participants he stressed that it is very important that judiciary and enforcement agencies take active roles in fighting illegal wildlife crime. He sought cooperation from all line agencies and emphasized that intelligence sharing is vital if we are to stop trade of our endangered animals.

Addressing the workshop, Honorable Justice Tope Bahadur Singh, Judge (Rtd.) Supreme Court and Executive Director of National Judicial Academy, said “it is high time that all sectors of society including the legal apparatus of the country work cohesively in conservation if we are to save our natural heritage before it’s too late.”

The workshop included five sessions with paper presentations and discussions on various subjects ranging from Bridging Legal Aspects of Wildlife Crime among Concerned Agencies, Investigative Procedures Related to Wildlife Crimes, Role of Government Prosecutor for Prevention and Prosecution of Wildlife Crime in Nepal, Role of Appellative Judiciary on Prevention of Wildlife Crime in Nepal etc

The sessions were chaired by various eminent individuals of the judiciary community like Honorable Justice Keshari Raj Pandit, Judge Appellate Court, Patan, Honorable Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Judge Appellate Court, Honorable Justice Tope Bahadur Singh, Judge (Rtd.) Supreme Court and Executive Director of National Judicial Academy Nepal and Honorable Justice Ishwor Khatiwada, Judge Appellate Court.

Papers were presented by Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Acting Chief of DNPWC, Mr. Tika Ram Adhikary, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Dr. Chuda Bahadur Shrestha, SLRC, Deputy Attorney General Mr. Chet Nath Ghimire, Honorable Chief Judge, Ram Bahadur Bam, Appellate Court Patan.

Participants from DNPWC, District Forest Office, Nepal Police, Nepal Army Different Law firms, Tribhuwan University, District Attorney Office, Nepal Law Campus, National Police Academy, and District Court participated in the workshop.

Several important subjects were dealt in group sessions. They were Empowerment, inclusion & participation of people in the management of Protected Areas; Awareness & education, developing appropriate strategies, Criminal Investigation & Prosecution of Wildlife Crime, Strengthening Adjudication of Wildlife Crime: Developing Coordination & Communication between Quasi Judicial & Judicial Sector

The workshop endeavored to look into solutions on how different line agencies can effectively work together to curb illegal wildlife trade from our society. It is for the first time that a workshop of this nature has been conducted in Nepal which involved the Judiciary and the Enforcement Agencies for nature conservation.