Department of Wildlife Conservation Role in Wildlife Law Enforcement

Progress and Way foward Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement NetworkM.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe1, P.F.U. Padmasiri2,R.S.Gunasekara31.Deputy Director/Department of Wildlife Conservation, 2 Assistant director/Department of Wildlife Conservation, 3. Superintendent of Customs/ Sri Lanka Customs

Sri Lanka So small yet so diverseSri Lanka is considered to be the high biodiversity country in Asia per unit area, and is part of a global biodiversity hot spot.

The ecosystem of Sri Lanka sustain important irrigation and hydropower facilities, against floods, landslides, soil erosion and siltation.

She harbors abundant biodiversity resources that provide numerous use values and as well as option, bequest and existence values.

Protected Area system comprises 143 units totaling 88 % of Protected Forests of the country.

About Half of the Native Species are Endemic to Sri Lanka

97% water crabs90 % of amphibians 25-75 % of reptiles and invertebrates44 % of fresh water fishes26 % of flowering plants14.5% of mammals,

are endemic

Wildlife Law EnforcementDepartment of Wildlife ConservationDetectionsInvestigationsProsecutionPolice Department Have the powers to enforceBut focus more onCriminalCivilMotor trafficTerrorismDrugsSri Lankan ParticipantsDepartment of Wildlife ConservationThe Wildlife Enforcement Authority of Sri LankaCITES Management Authority

Sri Lanka Customs Biodiversity, Cultural & National Heritage Protection UnitRevenue CollectionLaw EnforcementEnvironmental & Social ProtectionFacilitation of Trade &TravelSri Lanka - ProgressImplementation of Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network (2010)National Consultation on Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network Linking with South Asia (17th 18th Jan 2011)

What we agreed in Katmandu

The ability to liaise with:Other law enforcement agencies, nationally and internationallyLinks from national level to field level, and vice versaWith international organizations, the media and civil society

National Core GroupNational Policy(High-Level Political Will)CITESCustomsPoliceJudiciaryLiaisonInformation Exchange

Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network (SLaWEN) - Foundation

How We did itDepartment of Wildlife Conservation took the leadershipProposal on Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network and submitted for DWC Management committee approvalCreated a Budgetary allocation for SLaWEN ActivitiesInvited representatives from Member OrganizationsInitiated the SLaWEN and need assessment was done.

Law Enforcement Division Elephants, Tusks/Tushes, SLaWEN ManagementResearch and Training Division CITES, Imp.Exp. Permits, Filming PermitsNatural Resource Management Division EIA clearanceSLaWENDWC - SLaWEN managementSLaWEN Users/Contributors NationalPolice DepartmentSri Lanka CustomsForest DepartmentCentral Environment AuthoritySLaWEN Users/Contributors - InternationalCost Conservation DepartmentDepartment of ArcheologicalDepartment of Zoological GardensDepartment of Botanical GardensNational MuseumGSMBSAWENASIANWENWCOInterpolCustomsImmigration & EmigrationSLaWEN Steering CommitteeWildlife Conservation Director General ChairpersonDeputy Director (Law Enforcement Division) SecretaryDirector (Operation) Deputy ChairpersonDirector (Natural Resource) - MemberDD (NRM) - MemberDD (EC) MemberDD (R&T) MemberDD (Eco-tourism) MemberPolice Department MemberForest Department MemberSri Lanka Customs Member Central Environment Authority MemberCost Conservation Department Member

Wildlife Health DivisionElephant ConservationNGOs and IGOS as Observers Determined by the Management Committee

CITESNeed assemement by SLaWEN Steering CommitteeGroup 1 Capacity BuildingCapacity BuildingGeneral Training for StaffLegal FrameworkLaw enforcement Scope & AuthorityGeneral subject matterTraining of TrainersIdentification of Specialized trainingImplementation MechanismSteering Committee for implementation of the CB programmeReview the contents of the existing training programmesCB programme to share knowledgeLocal / Foreign training on WL Forensic scienceDevelop manuals / hand books/field guidesDevelopment of a long term CB programmeFeedback Mechanism to monitor all the processes in law enforcement to update the CB programme

Processes needing CBMonitoring & SurveillanceIdentification & DetectionApprehensionInvestigationProsecution

Group 2 Information ExchangeInformation SharingMechanisumInternalDevelop and ICT solution with Information Communication Agency (ICTA) Secure and password ProtectedCentrally locatedManaged by DWCExternalWebsite for SLaWENSummery of Information on regulationsUpdate once a monthDWC Should take the leadership

SurveillancePossibility of having a rewarding systemsSafe guard the informantEstablish a surveillance system in organizations with the help of Organizations have them alreadyGroup 3 Awareness RaisingTarget GroupsPolicy makersSenior Administrators(Secretaries, District Secretaries, Heads of Depts and Similar levels)Foreigners arriving SLTourism industryAviation industryResearchersExport Community

Enforcement OfficersLocal Community/Community leadersNGOsMediaStudents / TeachersSri Lankan missions abroad

Methods / ToolsLecturesSeminarsWorkshopsExhibitions and CompetitionsPress ConferencesAdvertisements(Audio and video) Active and Passive

Print material (books, leaflets, brochures, posters, banners and etc.)NewslettersWebsites and other internet based methodsShort Courses (Educational Institutions)Curriculum development (Secondary and tertiary levels)Implementation TeamSubject specialists from all relevant areasMedia specialistsMedia unit of DWC Overall coordination

Needs - in a NutshellShort TermPersonal Capacity Building ProgrammsPublicity and awareness raisingRequirement Identification and Specification for ICT based intelligence/information network

Medium TermInstitutional Capacity BuildingICT based intelligence/information networkCurriculum Development for training programsWildlife Forensic Capacity BuildingStructured Public Awareness ProgrammesWell Structured Personal Capacity Building ProgrammesIdentification manualsAll needs identified by the SLaWEN Steering committee

Long TermDevelopment of National Wildlife Research Center to be an inter agency wildlife enforcement and forensic training institutionEstablishment of a Forensic Laboratory at National Wildlife Research and Training Center.National Consultation Workshop

Outcomes - National ConsultationAgency An the RoleDWC National Coordinator of SlaWAN, Maintenance of national databaseEnforcement of FFPO, CITES, and CMSFDEnforcement of FO and plant identification, control of timber tradePolice deptEnforcement of the FFPO Illegal WL Trade, Assistance to Link with InterpolCustoms Monitoring and Enforcement of Import and Export and Data BaseAgriculture Dept.Quarantine Process Importation of Plants

Coast Guard Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the Coastal areasCoast Conservation Department Law Enforcement of Coastal Aras Illegal Collection of Marine SpeciesFisheries DptMonitoring and law Enforcement on Ornamental and Edible Marine SppArchaeological DeptControl on Export of Ivory, coral products, Turtle shells and timber ProductsNavySurveillance of the Sea for Marine species protectionImmigration & EmigrationSurveillance of International WL Offenders

Supporting AgenciesBotanical / Zoological GardensIdentification of Spp. Training and repository of confiscated live specimensNARAIdentification of Aquatic and Marine Spp. , TrainingVRISpecies Identification & forensic Activities Key Samples, Identification keys, Procedures and ManualsTimber CorporationControl of timber TradeNGOsEFL, Green Movement, WNPSCentre for Env. JusticeRole - Capacity Building at all levels; Public, Law Enforcement Agencies, and JudicialRoad Map of SLaWENPriorities for SLaWENWHATRecognition of SLaWEN as a priorityAppointment of steering committee consisting of key agenciesAssigning a special unit with staff in DWC to act as Secretariat for SLaWEN and incorporate it into the structure of DWCPeriodic meetings and updating through websiteInitiation of central databaseWHOSteering committee convenor DD Legal DWCAppointment of Steering committee by following protocolToR, Steering committee members of SLaWEN should be gazetted, due recognition is givenWHENWithin 3 months put into cabinet and gazetted HOWCabinet approval gazettingSeparate budget line exists but it should be continued. Steering Com. should pass resolution for fundraising mechanism and obtaining funds from other stakeholder agenciesPrioritiesFormation of SLaWEN Cell at DWCStructural changes in departments to facilitate SLAWEN Identification of Relevant Staff, Infrastructure - 2- 3 monthsFormation of SLaWEN Policy Guidelines, Protocols, Reporting formats for all agenciesIdentification of focal points of core agencies / DWC leading role, -6 monthsTraining for core Agencies, Lead DWC, Supporting NGOs and INGOsCapacity building in key agencies (identification, investigations methods and prosecutions etc.)Horizontal rapport between key personnel in different agencies establish and maintain an efficient intelligence gathering and sharing mechanismAwareness and education

Thank YouWe Initiated SLaWEN!